The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has completed roof-crush testing on several vehicles, providing the data needed to award its coveted Top Safety Picks. To boast the title Top Safety Pick, a vehicle has to that earn a top rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and have electronic stability control.
Earning this designation are the 2010 Audi A4 and Q5, Ford Flex and Fusion (twins Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ), Hyundai Tucson, Lincoln MKT, and Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen.
The addition of the roof-crush test to the criteria for a Top Safety Pick this year initially seemed like it would limit those vehicles who earned the accolade, but as the months have ticked by, there have been dozens of models tested that meet the tougher-than-federal standard. To earn a Good rating in roof crush, the vehicle has to withstand a force at least four times the vehicle weight with no more than five inches of roof deformation.
Manufacturers are taking this challenge seriously and fortifying their vehicles accordingly. In this group, Ford made changes to the roof structures of the Flex, Fusion, and MKT to improve performance. Consequently, the award applies to Flex models built after January 2010, Fusions built after April 2010, and MKTs built after March 2010.
Visit the autoMedia Audi, Ford, Hyundai, and Volkswagen Research Centers for quick access to reviews, pricing, photos, and much more.
