Ford Fiesta Wins First Ever Top Safety Pick Award in Class

When it comes to crash safety, North America’s institute of choice is the United States’ Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Crashing hundreds upon hundreds of brand-new vehicles every year in the name of occupant safety, the IIHS’ testing is considered to be a benchmark for many car buyers, and of the utmost importance to every manufacturer.

Which is why Ford’s executives are probably throwing themselves one heck of a party right about now, thanks to the Fiesta’s excellent performance during its IIHS evaluations. The first minicar to earn a Top Safety Pick rating since the addition of the institute’s rollover testing, the Fiesta managed all the standard testing with ease, and was capable of withstanding five times its own body weight placed upon one corner of its roof before failing. A good rating requires just four times a vehicle’s body weight be survived. Obviously, as the only minicar to earn the coveted Top Safety Pick rating, the new Fiesta is already distinguishing itself from the pack… how much more distinction it deserves will have to be determined when the much-awaited car finally makes it onto showroom floors.