Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has proudly announced that its 2012 Outlander Sport has received the United States Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rating of “Top Safety Pick” following rigorous crash test analysis.
The IIHS is a not for profit vehicle crash test ratings and research organization. The 2012 Outlander Sport and the Mitsubishi compact sports sedan, the 2012 Lancer, have now received the highest possible rating for vehicle crash testing that is awarded by the IIHS.
To receive the “Top Safety Pick” title, a vehicle must first receive a top rating of “good” in each of the IIHS’s various forms of crash test analysis. The Outlander Sport was capable of obtaining this rating for each of the test’s key evaluation categories:
• Roof strength
• Offset front impact
• Rear crash protection and head restraint
• Side impact
The design of the vehicle, which uses sheets of high-tensile steel in order to boost the crash safety while keeping the weight low, is what is primarily being credited for the high performance in the tests. In addition, though, the body structure of the vehicle was also optimized, and knee airbags have been added to the driver’s side.
The Outlander Sport is joining other Mitsubishi products that have previously been recognized for their high safety levels. For example, the ASX also received the highest possible safety rating (five-star crash safety rating) from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) last year. The year before, it received the highest five-star crash safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).
