The car's distinctive body construction is said to offer extra protection in side impacts, along with the side air bags and an inflatable curtain that, when deployed, covers the front and side windows.

The C-Class also includes eight air bags: two up front, four in the doors and two inflatable curtains that cover the side windows.

Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard, as are four air bags and inflatable head-protection curtains.

Side air bags for the front seats (along with an inflatable curtain to protect heads) are available on the LE, as are antilock brakes, but only as options.

Volvo credits its good performance to extra-strong boron steel in the middle roof pillar, as well as to the side-impact air bags and inflatable head-protection curtains.

He was referring to a type of side air bag that deploys from the roof, acting like an inflatable curtain, and is thought to provide better head protection than air bags deploying from the seat.

Other versions are more like inflatable curtains.

The new test procedures would reinforce the industry's voluntary commitment, by the end of the decade, to equip almost all new vehicles with inflatable curtains and other side air bags that protect people's heads.

There is also an inflatable curtain, mounted in the doors as there is no roof rail to fit it into.

But like its smaller sibling and unlike its rivals, the Verona does not have side air bags or inflatable curtains that cover the windows in a side crash.