IIHS Top Safety Picks 2009: Midsize Sedans

Every year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has the pleasure of crashing some of the newest cars money can buy, and we do mean pleasure as they take great pride in using these crash tests to steer people towards the safest of vehicles. This gallery focuses on the 2009 Top Safety Picks in the midsize sedan category of vehicles. To earn the designation Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must pass through a battery of severe simulated accidents and produce results in front, rear, and side tests that would indicate a low risk of any significant injuries to potential occupents (earning them a , or good rating). Vehicles must also have electronic stability control to make the list. The following pages feature each one of these Top Picks with links to more detailed test results, as well as key standard safety features and links to more information on the vehicle itself. We've also included a photo from each vehicle's test to give you a sense of just was these cars are built to protect you from. You'll notice for some 2009 vehicles an older photo is used; this generally means the vehicle hasn't changed enough in recent years to warrant an entire new set of tests. Photos courtesy of: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Vehicle Stability Assist Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Vehicle Stability Assist Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Tire Pressure Monitoring System LED Daytime Running Lamps Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Vehicle Stability Assist Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Dynamic Stability Control Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Electronic Stability Control (optional) Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

Note: 2009 Chrysler Sebring results are based on tests of the 2008 Dodge Avenger, as the two vehicles share a common safety architecture.

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Electronic Stability Control (optional) Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Electronic Stability Control (optional) Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Electronic Stability Control (optional) Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

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Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Electronic Stability Control Tire Pressure Monitoring System Front and rear head curtain airbags, front seat-mounted torso airbags

Note: 2010 Lincoln MKZ results are based on tests of the 2007 Ford Fusion, as the two vehicles share a common safety architecture.