Yesterday the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced their Top Safety Pick Awards for 2007. This year the standards changed, and so did the way the Institute for Highway Safety ranks the results of their testing. In order to be selected as a “Gold Top Safety Pick,” a vehicle must earn a top rating when tested by the Institute for side, front and rear impact. And, new this year cars must have Electronic Stability Control.
Electronic stability control (ESC), helps drivers keep better control during abrupt swerves, and emergency maneuvers. Crash test statistics compiled by the Insurance Institute and by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, indicate that ESC may potentially prevent over 10,000 driving deaths every year, if it were on every auto in the U.S.
In 2006 both, the Ford Five Hundred large sedan and the Mercury Montego earned Gold Top Safety Pick Awards. For 2007 Not one U.S. brands made the list most failing because they lacked the Electronic Stability Control.
The 2007 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick Awards went to the following vehicles:
- Acura RDX
- Audi A4
- Audi A6
- Honda CR-V
- Honda Pilot
- Hyundai Entourage
- Kia Sedona
- Mercedes-Benz M-class
- Saab 9-3
- Subaru B9 Tribeca
- Subaru Forester
- Subaru Legacy
- Volvo XC90
This year there was also major changes in ranking during the past years there were two levels of Top Safety Pick Awards Gold and Silver. In order to get any award this year, it’s harder to earn a Gold Top Safety Pick Award because the criteria is more stringent.
Winning a 2007 Top Safety Pick award, means the vehicle has to earn the best possible rating of “Good” in front and side impact safety and pass the test for whiplash protection for rear impacts. Last year, an auto earned a Silver Top Safety Pick Award with an “Acceptable” rating, for rear impact protection.
This change in levels bumped, five vehicles that won top awards last year from the list completely for 2006. Those were:
- Ford Five Hundred
- Mercury Montego
- Subaru Impreza
- Saab 9-2X
- Honda Civic – that won the top award last year were dropped from the list this year.
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