IIHS & HLDI news: 2010

The redesigned 2011 Infiniti M37/M56, a large luxury car, earns good ratings for front and side crash protection. The previous generation of the M earned good ratings in the same tests.

The new 2010 Lexus HS 250h, a midsize hybrid model derived from the Toyota Prius, earns a good rating for frontal crash protection.

The redesigned Toyota 4Runner, a midsize SUV, also is rated good for frontal crash protection.

Nebraska joins 14 other states in permitting the use of minitrucks on specific portions of the public road, effective January 1, 2011. Minitrucks may travel on most roads at the posted speed limit, but they are not permitted on interstates, freeways, or expressways. To compare minitruck laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/minitrucks.aspx

Virginia will raise speed limits on certain interstate highways from 65 to 70 mph starting July 1, 2010, following a traffic engineering study. Virginia joins 32 other states with limits of 70 mph or higher. To compare speed limits in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/speedlimits.aspx

The Scion xB and Toyota Corolla bring to seven the number of small cars consumers have to choose from that earn the Institute's highest safety designation. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, rollover, and rear impact tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.

The xB and Corolla are the first Toyota models to earn Top Safety Pick since the Institute tightened the criteria to win by adding the new rollover test for 2010.

To earn a good rollover rating, a roof has to support the equivalent of 4 times the vehicle's weight compared with the current federal standard of 1.5. In the Institute's test, the xB's roof withstood a force equal to 6.8 times the car's weight. The Corolla's roof supported 5.1 times the car's weight.

Read more about the Institute's rollover test here: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/roof/information.html

The xB and Corolla also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick award.

"Top Safety Pick recognizes the vehicles that afford buyers the best overall protection in common crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "With more top performers, there's no reason to buy a small car with less than stellar crash test ratings."

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra improves from marginal to good for side impact protection. Hyundai made design changes to the side airbags, body side, and rear door structure to improve occupant protection in side impacts. The new rating applies to 2010 Elantras built after November 2009.

The 2010 Acura ZDX, a new midsize luxury SUV, earns a good rating for frontal crash protection.

The redesigned 2011 Toyota Sienna earns good ratings for both front and side impact crash protection. The previous generation Sienna earned good ratings in the same tests.

Beginning May 17, local communities in Alaska can allow low-speed vehicles on roads with a posted limit of 45 mph or lower. Previously, low speed vehicles were only permitted on roads posted 35 mph or lower. To compare low-speed vehicle laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/LowSpeedVehicles.aspx

The redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata earns the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, rear, and rollover tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Sonata.

This is the first time the Sonata has earned the Institute's safety award. The previous generation Sonata was rated good for front and rear impact protection, acceptable in the side impact test, and marginal for rollover protection.

"With the addition of the new rollover evaluation, Institute test results now cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Vehicles that win Top Safety Pick are designs that go far beyond minimum federal safety standards."

Ford's re-engineered and restyled 2010 Mustang convertible earns good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for occupant protection in offset frontal crashes and side impacts. When the Institute initially tested the 2010 model it earned a poor frontal rating, but it improved to good in a follow-up test after Ford modified the front structure and doors of models made after December 2009.

The 2010 Acura MDX earns a good rating for occupant protection in new side tests. Acura modified the side airbags in the current model of this midsize luxury SUV, which was redesigned for the 2007 model year. The 2007-2009 model also earned a good side rating.

Toyota modified the 2010 Tundra's frontal airbags and safety belts and added knee airbags for the driver and front passenger to retain the good rating it earned for frontal protection for 2007-09 models. This large pickup had previously earned good ratings for side and rear protection, too.

New Jersey joins 23 other states in requiring rear seat occupants to ride restrained. Violations will be enforced as a secondary action, effective 1/20/11. For details on safety belt use laws in all states, go to http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx