2010 Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Kia Soul Crowned "Top Safety Picks"
The 2010 Honda Insight after its IIHS front crash test. The car is totaled, but the "driver" is OK.
Today the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced that three small cars, the 2010 Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Kia Soul, have earned their "Top Safety Pick" award after extensive crash tests. Including the three new winners, only 10 small cars earn the Institute's highest rating. In order to qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of "good" in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.
Cool crash test video after the jump.
Notice how the Soul practically pirouettes on its front wheels during the front crash test. (Wait for the slo-mo.)
After the initial crash on the Soul's side impact test, you get a cool view of what it looks like from inside the car:
Given the "scary" videos, it's amazing that this is what you could expect in a best case scenario during a crash in a small car.
The Top Safety Pick award is handed out by the insurance industry to push automakers into continually improving vehicle safety -- and it works. Many people look carefully at vehicle safety ratings and equipment before plunking down their money.
Although there are many who believe that the government is too heavy-handed when it comes to mandating safety features, others believe that automakers have to be forced to adopt any new safety technology, as they were with seat belts, airbags, and now stability control, which is mandatory for all model year 2012 cars.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
- Posted by
- Joanne Helperin August 13, 2009, 3:38 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Safety, Honda, Kia, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- Crash Tests, Honda Insight, IIHS Top Safety Pick, Kia Soul, Toyota Prius
Good for Honda, Toyota, and Kia. However, Honda really should have included ESC as standard on every model with the Insight. If the 2012 models require it, it would make sense to put it on the 2010 model, even it raises the cost of the car by $400 or so.