Two redesigned sedans from the Volkswagen group -- the 2012 VW Passat
mainstream, mid-size sedan and the 2012 Audi A6 large luxury car --
have earned the coveted "Top Safety Pick" ratings in testing by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the insurance industry's
research group.
To get the rating, they had to get the top score
of "good" in IIHS front, side, rear and rollover crash tests, some of
which are more stringent than the government crash tests.
TEST DRIVE here: The 2012 Passat is an interesting, satisfying new alternative in the Accord-Camry universe.
Neither car has been tested by the government, yet, so they haven''t gotten their ratings on the feds' star system.
By HOANG DINH NAM, AFP/Getty Images
The
old Passat was also was a top pick, though the new one proved to be even
sturdier on the roof test. The A-6 moved up -- the old model missed top
pick status because it fell short, with a 3.8 force-to-weight ratio on
the roof test.
The IIHS has, in the past, also required stability
control to get the top rating, but as of Sept. 1, government safety
rules require all new cars to have ESC.