2010 Kia Soul Awarded IIHS Top Safety Pick

Things seem to work great for Kia in the United States where the South Korean brand posted very high sales following the incentives offered by the government through CARS. More recently, the company's over-discussed Soul received a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after scoring a "good" rating in all tests - frontal, side and rear impact.

"Despite the current economic and industry situation, Soul continues to post strong sales and is a proven consumer favorite for its head-turning style, incredible value, numerous personalization options and long list of standard safety features," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). "Safety in particular continues to be a top purchase consideration for consumers in today's market, and having Soul honored with a 'Top Safety Pick' further strengthens its position as a vehicle that offers the entire package."

IIHS is not the first organization that gives the Soul a high safety rating. Back in mid June, this Kia model received a 5-star rating following EuroNCAP crash tests, after scoring 7 percent in Adult Occupant Protection, 86 percent for Child Protection and 86 percent for Safety Assist equipment and only 39 percent for Pedestrian protection.

In Europe, Kia Soul boasts a wide array of standard safety features, including dual front airbags, front side and full-length curtain airbags, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners and belt load-limiters and three 3-point seat belts for rear seat occupants. ESP is offered as standard as well, but only for countries in the Western Europe, while the other can only get it as a factory-fitted option.
More images in the gallery below.