Volvo 240 is no longer the best-selling Volvo of all time
World Player
With more than 2.7 million cars sold, the Volvo XC60 has surpassed the iconic Volvo 240 as the best-selling Volvo model ever. Since its debut in 2008, Volvo Cars’ midsize SUV has remained a favorite with customers. Initially built exclusively in Europe, the XC60 later became the first global Volvo model to also be produced in China to support local sales. In 2018, the Volvo XC60 was named Car of the Year.
Volvo XC60 the new number 1
“When I was growing up in Sweden in the 1980s, the Volvo 240 was the iconic family car. You saw one on almost every driveway,” says Susanne Hägglund, Head of Global Offer at Volvo Cars. “Now the XC60 has taken over that position in two ways. Not only as a family favorite, but also because it has become our all-time top-seller, which in itself is the ultimate proof of a successful car. With the latest updates, it gets even better.”
The perfect family car?
For years, the Volvo 240 estate was the most popular choice for families around the world, loved for its safety and fine handling. In the eyes of many, this car defined what an estate car should be. Today, the SUV has replaced the estate as the most obvious family choice. The XC60’s new status as Volvo Cars’ best-selling model of all time clearly reflects this shift in what customers want and need.
Volvo 240
When the Volvo 240 was introduced in 1974, this model set safety standards that would remain relevant for decades. For that time, the 240 had an advanced body design with front and rear crumple zones and a reinforced passenger compartment. These types of safety cages still protect Volvo’s occupants on the road today.
The 240 was also one of the first cars with enhanced side protection, which later evolved into Volvo’s patented Side-Impact Protection System (SIPS). In addition, the introduction of the booster seat for children in 1978 was a world first.
The 240 was made in Gothenburg and Kalmar, Sweden and in Ghent, Belgium. The last Volvo 240 rolled off the line at the Torslanda factory in Gothenburg, on May 5, 1993.
Volvo XC60
The Volvo XC60 continues to introduce numerous advanced safety technologies, such as City Safety; the world’s first standard low-speed automatic emergency braking system designed to help prevent or mitigate a collision at speeds up to 30 mph. This feature, introduced in 2008, has since become commonplace on new cars around the world.
Another world first, the 2017 XC60 introduced Oncoming Lane Mitigation, a system that steers the driver back into the lane when oncoming traffic approaches. These innovations have earned the car several independent safety awards.
The XC60 is currently being produced at plants in Torslanda and Chengdu, China.
