Passat CC Brings VW Seventh 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick Award

This year seems to be Volkswagen’s from a safety standpoint, as nearly all models in its line-up managed to impress the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS). The German automaker has so far received the 2011 Top Safety Pick award for the Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Tiguan, Touareg, and 4-door Golf and GTI models.

Now, another one comes to join the pack, in the form of the Passat CC 20.L TSI. This means the car performed best in protecting passengers in the Institute's front, side, and rear crash test evaluations, and the newly required roof-strength test evaluations.

Of course, another criteria that helped the CC bring Volkswagen the seventh Top Safety Pick award this year, was the fact that it is equipped with electronic stability control and head protection airbags.

"The performance of the CC is another example of Volkswagen's enduring commitment to engineer vehicles that earn the highest IIHS ratings," said Institute president Adrian Lund, in a statement for the press. "Volkswagen now has seven models on the list of vehicles that afford buyers state-of-the-art crash protection."

"Volkswagen is passionate about safety," said Tim Mahoney, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "To have IIHS recognize a total of seven Volkswagen models with this significant award is a great statement for the brand. It's a testament to our commitment to make safety such a high priority in vehicle development, using advanced techniques such as laser seam welding and the extensive use of high-strength steel to build exceptionally strong structures."