Ford Scores A+ in Crash Ratings
AmericanInjuryNews.com — West Palm Beach, Florida –News Report) – In many crash tests recently conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found the 2007 Ford Freestyle and the Toyota FJ Cruiser, two sport utility vehicles, earned top ratings in front and side impact crash tests. The test results also found that the 2007 Ford Fusion received the second-highest score of “acceptable” in front and side impact tests. It was an improvement over the 2006 version of the vehicles without side air bags, which received a “poor” rating in side-impact tests. The 2007 Fusion and Milan vehicles have standard head curtain and front torso side air bags.
An article in the Los Angels Times stated that Ford Motor Co. requested the additional tests for the Fusion and this conveys the positive message to consumers that the car companies care about vehicle safety. Additionally The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration formed a new Car Assessment Program which has recently given the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer five-star safety ratings for front and side impact crash resistance, the agency’s top rating. Ford SUVs boast the safety systems of AdvanceTrac and Roll Stability Control.
The IIHS’s Top Safety Picks are the following: the 2009 VW Tiguan, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2008 Nissan Rogue and the 2009 Ford Escape (along with the Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner). Also tested were the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2008 Jeep Patriot, 2008 Chevy Equinox and its Pontiac Torrent, and the Jeep Wrangler, which unsurprisingly scored the worst out of the group. None of these SUVs earned more than one ‘good’ score in the crash tests.
The Institute advocated that automakers make side air bags and electronic stability control standard equipment on new cars and trucks. Electronic stability control will be required on all new vehicles by the 2012 model year.
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