We commend Acura for achieving top overall ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA on every current model! We awarded the Acura MDX honors as the safest 2015 SUV in a recent article, and would like to acknowledge vehicle manufacturers that place an emphasis on safety. Acura claims to be the first and only auto manufacturer to earn a 5-star Overall vehicle score from the NHTSA NCAP program, AND a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS across its entire 2015 model line (IIHS TSP+ rating when equipped with collision mitigation braking systems). Congrats!
CarseatBlog emphasizes crash test ratings and advanced safety features in all our auto reviews. We strongly encourage other manufacturers to put safety first and to make crash test ratings a top priority for ALL vehicles, as Acura has done. To put it simply, an NHTSA “5-star” overall rating and IIHS “Top Safety Pick” rating is something every buyer should require in a vehicle. No new vehicles today should earn anything less than a “4-star” rating from the NHTSA or less than an “Acceptable” rating from the IIHS in any individual crash test result. Period.
We also encourage all auto makers to equip advanced crash avoidance technologies as standard whenever possible, especially on top trim levels and luxury vehicles. On economy models and lower trim levels, these features should be readily available in a relatively low cost options package. All too often, collision mitigation braking systems necessary to qualify for the IIHS Top Safety Pick “+” aware are a hard-to-find option and only on the most expensive trim level. Then you must tack on thousands of dollars more for a safety technology package, if you can even find one at all on dealer’s lots! That type of obsolete marketing is NOT putting customers and safety first.
http://www.acura.com/PressReleaseArticle.aspx?category=general&year=2015&id=8699-en#~prcSoSMD1munS6
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In other news, the IIHS is correcting two “BEST BET” booster recommendations from 2014. The Eddie Bauer Deluxe Highback 65 and Safety 1st Summit 65 were given the top rating in error. The revised rating is “Not Recommended”. According to the IIHS:
The concern about the Eddie Bauer Deluxe Highback 65 and Safety 1st Summit 65, both manufactured by Dorel Juvenile, is that while the shoulder belt crosses the child’s body at the middle of the shoulder, it is positioned too far forward. In that position, the shoulder belt would be less effective in a crash.
The IIHS states that these models were inadvertently evaluated to the protocol used prior to 2014. They also note that these ratings only apply to these models in booster mode, and DO NOT apply when used with the 5-point harness system. Below, you can see the difference between a Good (left) and Poor (right) shoulder belt fit in regard to contact at the shoulder (courtesy of IIHS):
www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/iihs-corrects-booster-ratings-2-best-bets-awarded-in-error
Darn about the Dorels, I know I was so excited by the new lapbelt guides I didn’t even think about the same old shoulderbelt guides (not that anyone paid me to put dummies in seats, it’s just that there on the shelf at Target, the seats looked so much better!)