Saabs have always been known for the more eclectic buyers, someone who wants to drive a vehicle out of the ordinary.
Well, move over Volvo. Saab owners can secretly congratulate themselves on driving safe cars as well. The Institute for Highway Safety has selected the sedan for its "Top Safety Pick Award" for the third year in a row.
DETROIT — The Saab 9-3 Sedan has earned the 2007 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick Award in the midsize car category. This is the third consecutive year that the 9-3 Sedan has driven away from this competition with top honors. For 2006 the 9-3 earned the Top Safety Pick – Gold Award and received a Double Best Pick crash test rating for 2005. The 2007 Saab 9-3 Sedan was awarded the designation amid toughening criteria.
The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries. Winning vehicles must earn good ratings in all three of the previously described tests and, new for 2007, vehicles must also offer electronic stability control. Adrian Lund, IIHS president admits that with the added criteria it is tougher to win, however it was added with the overall goal to encourage more vehicle safety improvements.
"This is the Saab 9-3's second year running to receive the IIHS Top Safety Pick award," said Adrian Lund, president of the IIHS. "Considering the criteria are tougher this year than last , the 9-3's accomplishment is impressive."
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.
Our take? We've been aware of Saab's safety features and am pleased it was recognized by the IIHS. Now Saab just needs to add the Corvette engine under the hood and we'll be happy--and safe--Saab drivers.