Hyundai, Merc earn 2010 Top Safety Pick awards

Hyundai's Genesis and Mercedes-Benz's E-Class have been nominated by America's IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for '2010 Top Safety Pick' awards in the large-car class.

The award recognises vehicles that earn the top rating of 'good' for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard in the Genesis and E-Class.

The latest result is further proof of the progress Hyundai and sister brand Kia have been making in recent years in all aspects of vehicle design.

The Genesis was introduced in the 2009 model year, but during the 2010 model year Hyundai made changes to the roof structure to improve protection in rollover crashes. Consequently, the Top Safety Pick award applies to Genesis models built after January 2010.

Mercedes can also derive satisfaction from its award, as this is the first time the E-Class has earned the Institute's top safety designation.

Earlier this year design changes were made to the padding in the front and rear doors to improve protection in side impact crashes, so the Top Safety Pick award applies to E-class models built after March 2010.

By virtue of their strong crash-test performances, the Hyundai and Merc join other top picks in the large-car class such as the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Volvo S80.

Hyundai had previously achieved Top Safety Pick status for the 2011 Sonata in the midsize segment, while Kia had fared likewise with the Forte and Soul in the small-car class.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes E-Class has now replicated the success of the smaller C-Class, which has been recognised by the IIHS as a Top Safety Pick in the midsize category.

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