Nissan Murano, Ford Flex get top safety ratings - The Detroit News
Washington — A group that prods automakers to build safer vehicles said Tuesday that two new 2015 mid-size SUVs won top honors in stringent front crash-test ratings, while others — including three made by Fiat Chrysler NV — fared more poorly. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said that among seven new models tested, the Nissan Murano earned a good rating and the Ford Flex got an acceptable rating in a tougher crash test in place since 2012. Both qualified for Top Safety Pick... IIHS Chief Research Officer David Zuby said the small-overlap crash test — which mirrors what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object such as a utility pole — presented a major challenge for manufacturers... The Jeep Wrangler four-door model received a good small-overlap rating. The vehicle also lacks a fixed roof, so it can't provide good protection in rollover crashes, the insurance industry funded group said. Aside from the Wrangler, three other Fiat Chrysler SUVs were tested for small overlap protection and didn't fare well. The Dodge Journey earned a poor rating, and the Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee earned marginal ratings. Source: www.detroitnews.com
