IIHS Names Hyundai Genesis, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans 2010 Top Safety Pick
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced today that the sedan versions of the Hyundai Genesis and Mercedes-Benz E-Class were named to the list of 2010 Top Safety Picks. To attain the IIHS' Top Safety Pick rating, the car must receive 'Good' ratings for frontal-, side- and rear-impact protection plus receive a 'Good' rating for roof strength and offer electronic stability control. As it turns out, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis and 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class both meet these requirements. With safety becoming more of a determining factor in the new-car buying process, being named as a Top Safety Pick is definitely a great selling point.
Although early Genesis sedans received an average rating for frontal-crash protection, all cars built after November 2008 have received Good ratings in all categories. When the Institute added roof-strength aspect to the Top Safety Pick qualifications, Hyundai again answered with changes that resulted in yet another Good rating. Only Hyundai Genesis models built after January 2010 are given the esteemed safety rating meaning that Hyundai made some changes, likely in roof protection, for the new calendar year. To protect the occupants, the Genesis sedan comes standard with eight airbags, three-point seatbelts for all five seats positions, bodyside reinforcements and an energy-absorbing steering column. The Hyundai Genesis was the named Autotropolis 2009 Car of the Year, and it is available as the base Genesis 3.8 with a starting MSRP of $33,000 or the V-8-powered Genesis 4.6 that starts at $39,500. The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata was also recently named as a 2010 Top Safety Pick.
Similar to the Genesis, the Mercedes E-Class had Good ratings across the board but had not received the Good rating for the roof-strength test, and only the E-Class models built after March 2010 were chosen as Top Safety Picks. Like all new Mercedes-Benz models, the redesigned E-Class focuses on safety as much as luxury by offering nine airbags, a high-strength body structure and the Mercedes-Benz Attention Assist driver drowsiness monitor. The E-Class is available in three distinct configurations (the E350, E550 and the powerful E63 AMG) with prices ranging from $48,600 up to $85,750. The only other Mercedes-Benz model to be named a 2010 Top Safety Pick is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Both automakers make coupe versions of their respective sedans tested here, but there is no indication as to whether either coupe is included in this rating. Unlike the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the IIHS does not separate the coupe and sedan models in its listings. As it currently stands, the number of Top Safety Picks has grown to 33 so far in 2010, which is still less than half the number that were named to the list for 2009.
Photos Courtesy of IIHS