Volvo City Safety

The City Safety system is a trusty wingman for distracted drivers. If you lose focus behind the wheel of the 2010 Volvo XC60, the vehicle can stop itself before you smack the stopped car in front of you. A laser sensor tracks the distance between you and the car ahead; approach too quickly, and the system hits the brakes. Below 10 mph, the Volvo is just about foolproof at preventing a fender bender, as we learned when we tried, and failed, to plow into an inflatable test vehicle. Between 10 and 19 mph, it will markedly slow the vehicle before impact. And no, this isn’t going to encourage text-messaging while driving: The system applies brakes late and hard, ensuring an experience far too jarring for anyone to be tempted to use it as an autopilot.