Roof Strength is Focus of New Rating System; 4 of 12 Small SUVs Evaluated Earn Top
Marks
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is launching a new roof strength rating
system to help consumers pick vehicles that will help protect them in rollover crashes. Twelve small SUVs are the first
to be put to the test. Only 4 earn the top rating of good. The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof, and the
Kia Sportage has the weakest among the 2008-09 models evaluated. This new rating system is based on Institute
research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs. Vehicles rated good must have
roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require. Read more...