If there's one automotive brand that has become synonymous with safety, it's Volvo. While Volvo has that safety reputation, that doesn't necessarily mean that the current iteration of the company is producing the safest vehicles. Every other 2026 model comes up short, including the the 2026 Volvo XC40 small SUV. On a scale of good, acceptable, marginal, and poor, it earned good ratings for the small overlap front and moderate overlap front crash tests, as well as providing good seat belt reminders. Because of these setbacks, a number of small SUV competitors from all around have been able to greatly outshine the Volvo XC40 in safety, earning either the IIHS' Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designations.