Honda Accord, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse Get Five-Star Safety Rating

The 2011 Honda Accord, 2011 Buick Enclave and 2011 Chevrolet Traverse received five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new safety rating system.

Each vehicle was tested under the new system, which was implemented last month. Since so many vehicles received five stars under the old system, the new standards are more rigorous, NHTSA says.

To get a five-star rating, tested vehicles must pass frontal crash, side crash and rollover resistance tests. Under NHTSA’s new system, these three tests also receive a combined overall rating that compares the average risks of injury. Because of the new methodology, the Traverse and Enclave received four stars in frontal and rollover tests, but they earned five stars overall due to other factors.

Unlike the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which requires that electronic stability control be standard for the highest safety rating, NHTSA's system does not require the feature. Still, the Chevy, Buick and Honda models come with ESC standard for 2011.

2011|Buick|Enclave

2011|Chevrolet|Traverse

2011|Honda|Accord

Comments

Buick models are definitely passers of safety ratings, that's according to the used car dealer (Orange County-based) I talked to last week. I'm planning to buy a luxury car before this year ends. And they're also offering pre-owned 2008 Chevy Cobalt for less than $9,000, which makes me rethink on the more expensive ones. And their 2005 Buick LaCrosse being sold for less than $12,000. My wife got her eyes on that. We're still trying to decide. We're after the safety of the vehicle, though. It's very important as we're driving our kids to school. Thanks for this info, by the way.

-Javier Cutts