The all-new 2009 Nissan Murano, on sale in the US and coming to Europe late 2008 has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
When testing nine mid-sized SUV models, IIHS found the Murano to be the best overall performer in front, side and rear crash test evaluations.
The Top Safety Pick award recognises vehicles that provide superior overall crash protection among vehicles in their class and only include vehicles equipped with standard electronic stability control; the Murano comes standard with Nissan's electronic stability control system, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).
The Murano was also one of only two mid-sized SUVs to earn a good rating for protection against whiplash injury in rear-end crashes. A "good" rating is the highest the IIHS uses.
The Nissan Murano joins the previously named Infiniti EX35 in the 2008 IIHS Top Safety Pick list.
SAFETY FEATURES OF THE MURANO:
The all-new 2009 Murano offers a full complement of standard safety features, including vehicle dynamic control with a traction control system, six standard air bags, featuring the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and an occupant classification sensor, roof-mounted curtain supplemental side-impact air bags for front-and rear-seat occupant head protection, along with a standard Tyre Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and driver/passenger seat belt warning lamps.
Also standard are front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child seat anchors and tether system, front seats with active head restraints and Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones to help dissipate crash energy away from the passenger compartment.
IIHSis a non-profit research institution funded by over 60 automobile insurance companies.
The Institute performs hundreds of tests every year in order to rate comparatively the safety and repair cost of the U.S. vehicle fleet. For more information and their press release please visit www.iihs.org.
