2010 Chevrolet Malibu Receives IIHS Top Safety Pick

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named today the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu as one of its Top Safety Picks. The Malibu thus joins the Buick LaCrosse, who managed the same feat in the last set of tests conducted by IIHS.

“The Top Safety Pick award helps car buyers zero in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety,” Adrian Lund, IIHS president said. “The Malibu has state-of-the-art crash protection and electronic stability control that can help drivers avoid crashes altogether.”

As with most Safety Picks these days, the Malibu had to endure front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The last test is done by pushing a metal plate gainst one side of a roof at a constant speed. To qualify for the "good" rating, which ultimately leads to the Top Safety Pick, a car's roof has to withstand four times the vehicle’s weight before reaching five inches of crush (strength-to-weight ratio).

“Building on a comprehensive package of standard active and passive safety features, we engineered extra roof strength in the 2010 Malibu,” Brent Dewar, vice Global Chevrolet president added. “Customers continue to tell us that safety is a top consideration in a new vehicle purchase and we are listening.”

The Malibu is powered by an E85-capable 2.4l engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. For the 2010 model, GM added three new exterior colors and 17-inch chrome-clad wheels for the 2LT trim.