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Acura TSX Luxury Sedan Top Safety Pick

2009 model shows safety improvements

June 24, 2008

The midsize luxury car won the safety award because of superior overall crash protection, according to IIHS. To qualify as a Top Safety Pick, "a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control," according to the IIHS.

"The new TSX improved in the side test from acceptable to good and in the rear test from poor to good, compared with the previous model," the auto insurance group reported.

"Criteria to win are tough because Top Safety Pick is intended to drive continued improvements such as top crash test ratings and rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard equipment on the TSX," said Institute president Adrian Lund.

"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," he said.

"This is the third Acura and the eighth model from Honda to earn our top award," Lund said. "Frontal crash-worthiness has improved dramatically for all cars in recent years, but there still are significant differences in how vehicles perform in our side and rear tests."

IIHS rated seat and head restraints in the 2004 to 2008 TSX as poor for occupant protection in rear crashes. Honda redesigned the seats in the 2009 TSX and earned the highest rating of good from the IIHS.

"You don't know what kind of crash you're going to be in," Lund said, "so it's important to choose a vehicle that will protect you in all kinds of crashes."

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