IIHS Picks 13 Midsize Sedans with "Superior Crash Protection" for 2013
The 2013 Honda Accord is one of the 13 midsize sedans to receive the Top Safety Pick+ award.
Last month, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded 13 midsize sedans to its new Top Safety Pick+. In addition to receiving scores of "Good" or "Acceptable" in IIHS’s new small overlap frontal-impact crash test, the 13 vehicles chosen as Top Safety Pick+ winners received top scores of "Good" in moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact and rollover crash tests.
The new small overlap frontal crash test, which was announced in August, simulates a front corner of a car crashing into something like a tree or utility pole traveling at about 40 mph. Vehicles are rated "Good", "Acceptable", "Marginal" or "Poor" in the new test. In December, the IIHS tested 18 midsize car models using the new scenario. An IIHS study conducted in 2009 found that the small overlap frontal impact crashes accounted for a quarter of serious or fatal accidents to front seat occupants.
The 13 midsize models that received the Top Safety Pick Plus are:
Acura TL
Dodge Avenger
Chrysler 200 sedan
Ford Fusion built after Dec. 2012
Honda Accord sedan and coupe
Kia Optima
Nissan Altima sedan built after Nov. 2012
Subaru Legacy built after Aug. 2012
Subaru Outback built after Aug. 2012
Suzuki Kizashi
Volkswagen Passat built after Oct. 2012
Volvo S60
AutoWeek reports that only midsize sedans have been tested thus far, and IIHS plans to announce more Top Safety Pick Plus winners as they test more vehicles. By spring, the IIHS expects to have results for compact SUVs.
