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Ford and Honda Win Big in IIHS Top Safety Picks 2009

November 25th, 2008 by Steve Cypher

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just released its Top Safety Picks for 2009 and the big winners this year are Ford Motor Company and Honda.

Ford Flex

2009 Ford Flex

What is IIHS?

Originally founded in 1959 by a group of insurers to support academic organizations working in the field of highway safety, the initial directive of this non-profit organization was changed in late 1968 when the Institute decided to “start at once to collect auto accident repair cost data prospectively.”

Beginning with the tenure of president William Haddon Jr., M.D. in 1969, the institute turned away from the traditional efforts of preventing crashes by changing driver behavior to developing a systematic approach to the reduction of vehicle occupant injuries, deaths and vehicle property damage.

The Institute’s current research covers three areas:

• Human factors that include teenage drivers, alcohol-related driving impairment, truck driver fatigue and safety belt use.

• Vehicle factors that focus on crash avoidance and crashworthiness research

• Research of the physical environment that includes roadway design assessment to prevent such things as run-off-the-road crashes and the elimination of roadside hazards.

IIHS Image

Crash Testing

Unlike the Federal government’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the IIHS does not use a full-frontal impact test, but rather a 40% offset frontal test. This exposes 40% of the front of a vehicle to an impact with a deformable barrier at approximately 40 miles per hour. The logic, according to the IIHS, is that while a full-frontal test certainly would yield results that would demonstrate the effectiveness of in-car safety systems, the offset test results better demonstrate the structural integrity of a vehicle and a vehicle’s ability to protect its occupants.

In addition to the frontal offset test, the IIHS has also begun side impact tests using a barrier that is more elevated than in the NCAP test, to better simulate an impact with an SUV. Vehicle bumpers are also evaluated in a series of 5 mph tests, while seat and head restraint designs are tested and rated using a test sled.

Ratings and Top Safety Pick Awards

Based on test results, the IIHS rates a vehicle’s crash performance as good, acceptable, marginal, or poor. While requirements for a Top Pick have changed throughout the years, current vehicles must first earn a good rating in all three categories (front, side and seat/head evaluations for injuries that could be sustained in a rear impact). An additional requirement is that winning vehicles must offer Electronic Stability Control, as the Institute’s research indicates ESC “significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.”

2009 Honda Fit Sport

2009 Honda Fit Sport

Top Safety Picks 2009

For 2009, the big winners were Ford Motor Company and Honda Motors. For its part, Ford had the greatest number of vehicles – 16 different models (two, the Fusion and Milan, have ESC as an option) – that were rated as Top Picks, representing 44% of current Ford vehicles tested by IIHS.

Honda, on the other hand, had 13 vehicles that were rated as Top Picks that represented 100% of Honda’s current lineup that has been tested by the Institute.

2009 Winners:

Large cars

Acura RL
Audi A6
Cadillac CTS
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Mercury Sable
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80

Midsize cars

Acura TL
Acura TSX
Audi A3
Audi A4
BMW 3 series – 4-door models
Ford Fusion – with optional electronic stability control
Honda Accord – 4-door models
Mercedes C Class
Mercury Milan – with optional electronic stability control
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat

Midsize convertibles

Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Eos
Volvo C70

Small cars

Honda Civic – 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Mitsubishi Lancer – with optional electronic stability control
Scion xB
Subaru Impreza – with optional electronic stability control
Toyota Corolla – with optional electronic stability control
Volkswagen Rabbit – 4-door models