Pilot and CR-V Top Institute's Crash Safety Ratings

All-new Pilot and CR-V were among 7 SUVs to get the highest ratings in 2007 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests. The annual award is in recognition of vehicle's performance in protecting car occupants. For the first time this year, said Honda vehicles are given the Top Safety Pick Awards. Pilot and CR-V topped in front, side and rear crashes.

"Honda is honored that IIHS awarded their highest safety rating of 'TOP SAFETY PICK' to both the Pilot and the all-new CR-V, recognizing the advances Honda continues to make through our 'Safety for Everyone' commitment," said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Having both the CR-V and Pilot earn IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK awards demonstrates that mainstream and affordable Honda SUVs can achieve the highest levels of crash protection in these types of tests."

Furthermore, Honda through its "Safety for Everyone" initiative incorporate side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor as standard equipment to all trim levels of Pilot and CR-V. New airbags complement the already existing safety features of the vehicles like the front passenger's airbags, front-side air bags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System and Vehicle Stability Assist. In addition, auto parts Honda CR-V also incorporate the automaker's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure.

Honda auto parts used in CR-V are inspired by Civic. This is resorted to by the automaker to satisfy the demands of car enthusiasts for a refined sport utility vehicle. The new CR-V is launched for the model year 2007. It has similar platform with that of Acura RDX. Acura OEM parts for RDX are also upgraded to boost their potentials the same way that Honda enhanced Pilot and CR-V.

The new CR-V is made wider, lower and shorter than its predecessor. It will no longer have a spare wheel mounted on its backdoor. In addition, it will also feature a real lift gate.

Honda Pilot, on the other hand, is the second SUV of the automaker. The first version of the vehicle was released in 2002. Since then, the vehicle is built in Lincoln, Alabama and Alliston, Ontario, Canada. A redesigned Pilot will hit the auto industry in 2008. The vehicle is expected to be bolder and more sophisticated than its current version.