2013 Honda Civic Is First Small Car To Earn Top Safety Pick+

Online, March 18, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Although the Civic is known for receiving praise year after year, Bommarito Honda is still proud to announce that the 2013 Honda Civic was the first small car to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)'s "Top Safety Pick+" designation, setting it apart from competing vehicles when it comes to safety.

Falling in line with Honda's reputation for safety, the Civic has frequently been one of the safest on the road, receiving praise from the IIHS and NHTSA alike for years, but this new designation is a sign of things to come for safety rankings, as it implements a new test.

In order to qualify for this top ranking, vehicles have to pass a simulation of a 40 mph impact with a telephone pole-like object, referred to as a frontal-offset crash test. In this test, no more than 25 percent of the vehicle is hit by the object, and it's the prime designation between "Top Safety Pick+" and the former highest ranking of "Top Safety Pick."

In addition to doing well in this test, the Civic also needed to be awarded rankings of "good," the highest offered by the IIHS, in side impact, moderate front overlap, rollover, and safety restraint tests. Furthermore, vehicles are ineligible if they do not earn at least an "acceptable" ranking for small front overlap crash tests.

Significant structural updates to the 2013 Civic likely helped boost the vehicle up to this higher status, but Honda has also equipped all of their new lineup with somewhat more passive safety-enhancing features.

They may seem like comfort features, but Honda's new level of standard amenities helps keep drivers safe on the road as well. It may not be immediately obvious, but technology such as

• Bluetooth connectivity with handsfree calling
• SMS text message capabilities
• Rearview camera system
• Steering wheel-mounted controls for Honda's new i-MID system can help to contribute to a reduction in driver distraction and a safer driving experience.

To learn more about the many IIHS awards that Honda vehicles have earned or to set up a test drive of the 2013 Civic at Bommarito Honda, contact the dealership. They are open six days a week at 330 Brookes Drive in Hazelwood, Missouri.