Volvo's XC60 has just been awarded a five-star safety rating in the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) crash tests.

The smaller SUV even outdid its larger sibling, the XC90, in the two-tier testing system that scores cars in their standard and full safety kit-equipped specifications.

The XC60 scored 98 percent for adult occupant protection, 87 percent for child occupant protection, 76 percent for pedestrian safety and 95 percent for safety assistance systems. These results are the highest since the XC90 scored 97 percent, 87 percent, 72 percent and 100 percent, respectively, in the 2015 Euro NCAP tests.

According to Thatcham’s (a member of the Euro NCAP since 2004) research director, Matthew Avery, it's the XC60's reduced weight and advanced assistance technologies that have trickled down from the XC90 that helped the SUV achieve this high score.

Volvo plans to bring its XC60 to India by December 2017 and it will be locally assembled at the Swedish manufacturer’s Bengaluru plant.