The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced that 24 passenger vehicles for the 2007 model year have received five stars in front and side crash tests, the highest government rating under the agency's New Car Assessment Program.
The newly tested models earning five stars include a seven of four-door passenger vehicles: Dodge Caliber; Ford Five Hundred; Kia Optima; Mercury Montego; Subaru Legacy; Saturn Aura; and the Toyota Camry. In addition, 17 four-door SUV's earned a five star crash test rating for all seating positions: Acura MDX; Acura RDX; Audi Q7; Dodge Nitro; Ford Freestyle; GMC Acadia; Honda CR-V; Honda Element; Hyundai Santa Fe; Infiniti FX35/45; Jeep Grand Cherokee; Kia Sorento; Kia Sportage; Mazda CX-7; Saturn Outlook; Subaru Outback; and the Toyota Highlander.
Thus far, the agency has completed frontal, side, and rollover ratings for 63 of the 70 vehicles scheduled to be tested for the 2007 model year, representing approximately 79 percent of the 2007 model year fleet.
Of all newly tested vehicles, only the Mazda6 four-door, Pontiac Solstice convertible and its twin, the Saturn Sky Convertible, earned five stars for rollover resistance -- but none of these models also attained five star crash test safety for all seating positions. Of the 24 earning five star crash test safety for front and side impact, none earned five stars for rollover resistance.
NHTSA uses a consumer-friendly ratings system -- ranging from one to five stars, with five being the highest -- that makes it easy to compare the predicted safety performance of tested vehicles. Beginning in September 2007, government star ratings will be listed on the window stickers of new vehicles.
The ratings for the 2007 models, as well as for previous years, can be found at www.safercar.gov. The information is also available by calling NHTSA's toll-free vehicle safety hotline, (888) 327-4236.
The 2007 vehicles selected for NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) frontal, side and rollover tests, which may include twins and some carry-over test results from previous years, Click here for full NHTSH's rating chart!