The 2017 Cadillac XT5, the 2017 Chevrolet Volt and the newly introduced Chrysler Pacifica have all earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) top safety rating.
The Cadillac XT5, a new midsize luxury SUV, earned good ratings in all five of the Institute’s crashworthiness evaluations. When equipped with optional front crash prevention, it earned a superior or advanced rating, depending on the package selected.
When equipped with both Front Automatic Braking and Low-Speed Front Automatic Braking, the SUV earned a superior rating for front crash prevention. In the 12 mph IIHS track test, it consistently avoided a collision. In the 25 mph test, it avoided a collision in four out of five runs and slowed but didn’t stop completely in the fifth.
When equipped with low-speed autobrake only, the XT5 earned an advanced rating.
The 2017 Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid that can travel 53 miles without gas on one charge, was redesigned for the 2016 model year. The 2016 model wasn’t tested, but the Institute evaluated the 2017 model as part of a testing program of electric vehicles.
The Volt earned across-the-board good ratings for crashworthiness. Its performance in the small overlap front test was an improvement over that of the previous generation of Volt, which earned an acceptable rating. The new version had less intrusion into the occupant space.
The small car earned a superior rating for front crash prevention when equipped with optional Front Automatic Braking and Low-Speed Front Automatic Braking. In IIHS track tests, the vehicle avoided collisions at 12 mph and 25 mph. The systems also include forward collision warning that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.
When equipped with the low-speed system only, the car avoided a collision at 12 mph, and its impact speed was reduced by 5 mph in the 25 mph test. The low-speed system also received credit for the warning function and earned an advanced rating.
The newly introduced Chrysler Pacifica became the first minivan to earn a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.
The minivan, which replaces the Chrysler Town & Country, earned good ratings in the Institute’s five crashworthiness tests. However, its good rating in the challenging small overlap front test applies only to Pacificas manufactured after August 2016, when changes were made to prevent the driver door from opening during a small overlap crash.
The Pacifica is available with an optional front crash prevention system, which earned a superior rating. In IIHS track tests at 25 mph and 12 mph, the vehicle avoided collisions. The system also received credit for a forward collision warning component.
To qualify for a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also must have an available front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating.
