Do you see yourself as a potential target for gunmen or assassins? If so, you probably need more than tinted windows—you need an armored car. Since you ain’t no Pablo Escobar, you probably don’t need a literal armored vehicle, and a used The Beast would draw way too much attention. That leaves you with one option: a regular-looking armored car.
However, rather than retrofitting your existing ride—risking your warranty and possibly your insurance—it makes more sense to consider a factory-armored vehicle like the Volvo XC60 or XC90. Well, factory as in in-house modified.
These come bulletproof and vandalism-resistant straight from the Swedish automaker, and best of all, they’re still fully covered for service, repairs, and insurance. Though it is worth noting that Volvo isn’t the only major automaker that offers this; BMW does too.
The armored XC90, available as a plug-in hybrid or mild hybrid, is your everyday luxury SUV—except it’s ready to take a few rounds and still drive home. From the outside, it looks like any regular XC90, complete with options like Google built-in, a 360° camera, and an air purifier.
But under the skin, it’s tough as nails. We’re talking layers of aramid (the same stuff in bulletproof vests), 19 mm thick laminated armored glass, reinforced chassis with custom stainless steel parts, and upgraded brakes and wheels—all while maintaining normal handling and features.
Each armored XC90 undergoes ballistic testing, including 300 shots, to earn dual certifications: the U.S. NIJ-IIIA standard and Europe’s VPAM-BRV 2009. It’s also tested for vandalism resistance—just in case someone tries to pry their way in with a crowbar.
That’s not it. The heavy armored variety or VR8, which weighs nearly 10,000 lbs (with five people in it), can withstand a blast from up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of TNT at a distance of 2 meters (about 6 feet)—in addition to providing protection against 7.62×51 mm and 5.56×45 rounds. The light armored version only protects against handguns, but it’d be light, only adding around 250 kilograms (551 pounds) to the car.
Better yet, it doesn’t compromise on space or usability. The tailgate is still power-operated, the interior still roomy (623 liters of cargo space), and all safety systems—like airbags and sensors—remain fully functional.
Volvo also offers an armored XC60 for those who want something smaller but equally secure. Whether you’re guarding against theft or personal threats, these armored Volvos mean serious protection—with none of the drawbacks of retrofitting.
We heard the XC90 Armored Car cost around £450,000, which is about US$602,000 based on the current going rate. Not cheap, but I supposed if you need such kind of protection, this would be a small change to you.
Images: Volvo.
