• By Jeremy Allston
• Published 10/30/2012

The all-new Volvo hatchback car, the V40, will be given a lower insurance rating following extensive testing of the model’s City Safety technology at the renowned industry research centre in Thatcham, Berkshire.

Thatcham’s Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, put Volvo’s own version of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), known as City Safety, fitted as standard on the V40, through its rigorous testing procedure.

It concluded the technology was so effective at preventing low speed accidents that it should therefore be taken into consideration when deciding the insurance group. Depending on model, the V40 range will now be given an insurance rating two to three groups lower under the new criteria.

Volvo’s City Safety low-speed collision avoidance system operates at speeds up to 31 mph on the V40 (currently 19mph on other Volvo models), keeps an eye on traffic in front and automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops – or if the car is approaching a stationary vehicle too fast.

The award-winning* technology was first fitted as standard to all Volvo XC60 models, when the model launched in 2008, in a world first. Following its success in reducing accidents and injury, Volvo took the decision to fit City Safety as standard to all subsequent new models reflecting the brand’s commitment to developing the safest vehicles across its range.

Thatcham has highlighted AEB technology as the most significant new active safety innovation in the automotive industry today with the potential to dramatically cut the number and severity of accidents. Studies from the USA have already shown an overall crash frequency reduction of 27% in vehicles equipped with the system.

Such vehicles will qualify for testing and subsequent reduction in their insurance group rating from October 2012.

Currently, only the V40 has been tested although the majority of Volvo models, with the exception of XC90, C30 and C70, fit AEB as standard. Volvo V40 has also received the top rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP collision test. The overall result is the best ever recorded by the institute.

About the Author : Jeremy Allston is writing about the Volvo hatchback car.