2010 Buick LaCrosse Gets IIHS Top Safety Pick

The star of GM's Buick line, the LaCrosee, has received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top safety Pick after it achieved a “good” rating in the four-crash simulations conducted by IIHS.

“Institute tests represent the four most common kinds of crashes,”Adrian Lund, IIHS president said in a release. “Getting through these tough tests and earning the Institute’s highest award means the LaCrosse is in the top tier for safety.”

As you know by now, to qualify for IIHS' Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must pass crash tests which include front, side and rear, as well as a simulated rollover crash. LaCrosse received a “good” rating for roof strength.

In this test, a metal plate is pushed against one side of a roof at a constant speed. If the car's roof can take the force of four times the vehicle’s weight before reaching five inches of crush, a "good" rating is given.

"We engineered this level of roof strength into the 2010 LaCrosse,” Jim Federico, vehicle line executive engineer responsible for LaCrosse added. “Customers continue to tell us that safety is a top consideration in a new vehicle purchase and we are listening. We think this is one more reason why the LaCrosse deserves strong consideration.”

The LaCrosse has a starting price of $27,835, including $750 destination charge, for the CX version equipped with the 3.0l direct injection V6 engine which generates 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 217 lb.-ft of torque. It is also offered with a 3.6l and an Ecotec 2.4l four-cylinder engine.