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New SUV Crash Test: Nissan Murano On Top
The latest SUV crash test results are already out today. And according to the Auto Channel, the 2009 Nissan Murano notched the Top Safety Pick award. The Murano was the chosen ultimate safety performer with great scores in side, and rear tests out of nine 4-door midsize SUV models. The tests were done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The newly-revamped Murano displayed great attributes in side, front and rear crash tests along with its super strong cargo liners.
On the other hand, the 2008 Jeep Liberty, '08 Jeep Wrangler 4-door, and '08 Kia Sorento emerged as the worst performers in the side test; while the Jeep Liberty and Wrangler received the second lowest rating of secondary for protection in side crashes. The Kia Sorento got the lowest score of poor.
Mazda's CX-7 and CX-9 models along with the Mitsubishi Endeavor notched good ratings for protection in front and side crashes.
"Combined with test results released last year, consumers now have 9 midsize, moderately priced SUV models that earn our Top Safety Pick designation," says Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan.
"More good news is that manufacturers have been moving quickly to add safety features like stability control and side airbags to their SUV models," Nolan adds. "All of the SUVs in this group have ESC, and all but the Wrangler have standard side airbags. Increasingly, consumers are getting the latest safety equipment without having to hunt through a list of options."
The Nissan Murano won the Top Safety Pick title and was known to be a redesigned model for the 2009 model year and ESC, which was earlier considered as optional feature was made now a standard equipment.
"You don't know what kind of crash you're going to get into, so you want a vehicle that affords the best protection in the most common kinds of crashes," Nolan says. "The Murano is the only SUV in the group that does this."
"Performance of some of these models in the side test was surprising," Nolan points out. "SUVs should have an inherent advantage in such crashes because drivers and passengers ride higher up than in cars. People often think they're safer in an SUV, but many cars perform much better in our side test than some of the SUVs in this group."