XC40

Make
Volvo
Segment
SUV

Volvos are known for safety and comfort, and its vehicles offer a coddling, relaxing experience on the road. The automaker has offered air quality sensors and filtration options for a few years now, but soon, many new Volvos will get an advanced air cleaning system that handles allergens and even viruses.

The tech will be available on new 60- and 90-series models, beginning with those built in the second quarter of 2022. The XC40 does not get the tech, but it will include models like the S60 and S90. It's been certified asthma and allergy friendly by Allergy Standards Limited, a company that tests and rates products for people with asthma.

Volvo believes that the benefits of cleaner air go beyond reducing harmful allergens and other particulates. The automaker's occupant health effects expert, Dr. Maria Bernander, said that "studies have shown cleaner air can also help boost concentration which can help you stay more focused during the drive."

Volvo says its advanced air cleaning system removes up to 95 percent of PM 2.5 particles from the cabin and notes that it can remove more than 97 percent of airborne viruses that try to enter through the air filter and up to 95 percent of viruses already inside the vehicle. It's worth noting that the air cleaner has only been tested against pollens from timothy grass, birch tree, and ragweed, and only for the Phi6 and MS2 viruses. Some, like Honda, have come up with options that block coronovirus as well.

Perhaps more interesting than the purification process itself is that the system gives passengers the ability to assess the cabin air quality. Live data shows outdoor pollen and air quality, which is then displayed on the car's infotainment system. The company has offered air quality tech for years, as it debuted sensors in 2020 that could measure PM 2.5 levels inside the car. PM 2.5 is a pollutant that can cause problems at higher levels. Enough of the material can cause the air to appear hazy in certain circumstances.

Though it's not alone in offering in-vehicle air cleaning tech, Volvo's system appears to go a step further than others. Mercedes-Benz offers a similar technology in vehicles like the E-Class and S-Class that uses an ionizer and charcoal to remove pollen and foul odors, but it doesn't promise to catch viruses and cannot display outside air quality data. That said, it can spray perfumes into the car, so at least there's that.