THE all-new Volkswagen Passat has earned the coveted US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety pick rating for 2011, the highest possible from the non-profit safety research organisation.

The annual rating recognises vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute’s front, side, and rear crash test evaluations, and the newly required roof-strength test evaluations. The Institute only awards ratings to vehicles that are fitted with electronic stability control and head protection airbags.

Volkswagen now has no fewer than eight 2011 IIHS Top Safety Picks.

Other 2011 Volkswagen models to receive the rating are the CC 2L TSI, Jetta, Jetta Sport, Tiguan, Touareg, and four-door Golf and Golf GTI model.

“The performance of the Passat is another example of Volkswagen’s ongoing commitment to engineer vehicles that earn the highest safety ratings,” said Institute president Adrian Lund. “Top Safety Pick winners achieve that status by earning the top ratings in the Institute’s four demanding tests, and by having electronic stability control, the most important feature in helping drivers avoid many kinds of crashes in the first place.”

According to Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, the new Passat is an important vehicle for Volkswagen. “It has been engineered in Germany specifically to compete in the heart of the US mid-size sedan segment,” he said.

“To have IIHS recognise the Passat as a Top Safety Pick is a great statement for this new car — and to have eight Volkswagen models with this significant award is an equally 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.”