Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan Brings Home IIHS’ Top Safety Pick Award for the Fourth Time
In keeping up with the technology of vehicle safety, Saab has distinguished itself as one of the car manufacturers who have been highly dedicated to safety. Recently, the 2008 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, SportCombi and Convertible have been awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick Award in the Midsize Category for 2008.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a “nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers. The Institute’s research focuses on countermeasures aimed at all three factors in motor vehicle crashes (human, vehicular, and environmental) and on interventions that can occur before, during, and after crashes to reduce losses”.
This is the fourth consecutive period that the 9-3 Sport Sedan has brought home a luxurious award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In 2005, the 9-3 Sport Sedan was awarded a Double Best Pick crash-test rating. In 2006, it received the Top Safety Pick – Gold Award and in 2007 it received the Top Safety Pick Award. The 9-3 Sport Sedan is only one of the two convertibles and the “one of two convertibles and the only soft-top convertible to earn a top spot”.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety president Adrian Lund, “The Saab 9-3 performed well in front and side crash tests and the Saab Active Head Restraints provide state-of-the-art protection against neck injuries. The addition of electronic stability control as standard equipment confirms Saab’s commitment to vehicle safety.”
Vehicles that undergo testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety were rated as good, acceptable, marginal or poor based on their performance and ability to deliver the necessary safety measures. The vehicles underwent high speed front and side impact crash tests. Seat and head restraints were tested for safety against neck and head injuries. The vehicle also has to have a good “electronic stability control”. The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan passed all tests with remarkable results.
