01.10.2011 CHRYSLER AND DODGE MINIVANS EARN TO U.S. SAFETY RATINGS

CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY 2012
DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2012

The facelifted Chrysler Town & Country (top) and Dodge Grand Caravan (bottom) minivan models have both been named as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2012.

The facelifted Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivan models have both been named as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2012. In addition to receiving top scores in rollover tests, both minivans - which share architecture and powertrains - achieved good ratings in the areas of frontal, side and rear crash protection. Additionally, to be considered, vehicles must have standard electronic stability control systems.

The IIHS is the key safety rating agency in the U.S., but its choice of a "Top Pick" mark up the Chrysler Town & Country shows that U.S. safety testing and analysis may still not right up to the standards of equivalent European testing. Last week the Town & Country in its European market guise as the Chrysler Voyager/Lancia Voyager was the only one of 12 cars tested by EuroNCAP to fail to achieve the top 5-star rating.

For 2012, both Chrysler Group minivans offer more than 40 standard or available safety features. Front seat mounted airbags, three-row side curtain air bags, driver-side knee blocker air bag and all-speed traction control are among the standard safety features. Both models also include an available SafetyTec group with features including ParkSense rear park assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection.

“Safety-conscious parents shopping for a family hauler should be pleased with today’s minivan choices,” said David Zuby, the Institute's chief research officer.

The 2012 models of Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country received strength–to-weight ratio ratings of 4.51, among the highest of the minivans tested, and above the IIHS requirement of 4.0. Minimum requirements by the government are 1.5.

“With the latest addition of Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler Group has 11 vehicles that have been named Top Safety Pick since we began our unprecedented launch of new vehicles a year ago and is unsurpassed,” said Scott Kunselman, senior vice president – engineering. “This latest recognition by IIHS underscores our commitment to engineering safety and security across all vehicle segments. As we continue our product transformation, we’ll continue to engineer new technology and more capabilities into all our vehicles.”

Last month, the Fiat 500 was named Top Safety Pick by IIHS. Additionally, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Patriot, Chrysler 300 and 200, Dodge Durango, Charger, Journey and Avenger received Top Safety Pick designations earlier this year from IIHS.
 

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