Ford News Blog

2009 Ford Escape Tops Toyota and Honda In Combined Safety And Fuel Efficiency Ratings

The 2009 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which pit the Escape atop the small sport utility vehicle segment. The Escape also earned the U.S. government’s 5-star crash-worthiness rating.

The results top the Toyota RAV-4 in both independent crash safety ratings and, with the 2009 Escape’s improved fuel efficiency, offer better combined crash safety and fuel efficiency ratings than the Honda CR-V. Ford’s hybrids also outpaced Toyota Prius in both crash tests.

"Earning a Top Safety Pick is great news because IIHS tests are some of the most demanding conducted outside of our own laboratories, and customers are increasingly relying on them when choosing a new vehicle," said Susan Cischke, senior vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "The Ford Escape is one of few vehicles that earned both full 5-star crash ratings and a Top Safety Pick in the hotly contested small SUV segment -- some of our toughest rivals such as Toyota cannot match us."

The Ford Escape also is rewarding customers with large quality gains, matching lineup-wide improvements that have placed Ford on par with Toyota and Honda. The Escape earned a Top Three spot in J.D. Power and Associates' 2008 Initial Quality StudySM, which measures new-vehicle quality at 90 days of ownership.

To earn IIHS's Top Safety Pick, vehicles must earn the top "good" ratings in the institute's high-speed front and side crash tests, and rear crash tests that include seat and head restraint evaluations. An added requirement since 2007 is that vehicles must also offer electronic stability control.

IIHS recognized improvements in Ford’s 2009 compact SUVs including "modifications to the frontal airbags and safety belts as well as structural changes to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes," adding that "a new seat design improves the rear crash protection rating," as well.

"We’ve devoted many hours to analyzing and improving the body structure, safety belts and air bags of Escape for better performance in front and side impact crashes," said Steve Kozak, chief engineer for safety systems, Ford Motor Company. "We’ve taken our compact SUVs to the next level of safety."

Safety Standard

Ford and Mercury compact SUVs get some of their core strength from selective use of high strength steel in the body structure. The use of high-strength steel in the B-pillars to help protect passengers in front and side impacts is only part of their robust safety profile. The gas and hybrid electric versions share identical safety architecture.

Kozak added that every new Ford SUV and crossover launched since the 2006 Ford Explorer has standard electronic stability control and side air bags – safety features that helped Ford achieve its leading number of IIHS top safety picks.

Ford and its global brands have built 4 million vehicles globally with electronic stability control systems. More than 1 million of those vehicles feature Ford’s industry exclusive, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control (RSC), the world’s only system with a gyroscopic sensor that actively measures and helps control both side-to-side "yaw" and roll movements.

All 2009 Ford Escape models offer as standard equipment Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC®, front seat-mounted side airbags and Safety Canopy® Air Curtain System with rollover detection. Also standard is Ford’s Personal Safety System®, which includes dual-stage driver and front-passenger airbags, a driver seat position sensor, passenger seat sensor, and load-limiting safety belt retractors and pretensioners. Together, the system helps customize front air-bag deployment levels based on driver seating location, passenger weight and safety belt usage.

Posted on 8/22/2008 08:54:00 AM