Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

The 2009 Nissan Murano was the best performer in new crash tests of midsize sport utility vehicles, while the Hummer H3 had one of the poorest showings, according to results released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The institute, which is funded by the insurance industry, said the redesigned Murano was the only vehicle among the nine tested to get the highest rating of "good" in front, side and rear crash tests.

Jarring images of vehicles crashing into test barriers are becoming more prevalent on the Internet, giving safety-conscious car shoppers another tool when searching for the right car.

The 2008 BMW 5 Series was the worst performer in new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the insurance industry. The Acura RL, Kia Amanti and Volvo S80 all earned the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, according to results released today.

When it comes to buying a crash-worthy convertible, paying more doesn't always get you more, researchers have found. With starting prices above $39,000, the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4 Cabriolet were among the most expensive of 10 ragtops tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, yet they placed near the bottom of the safety rankings.

Head restraints in many passenger vehicles provided marginal or poor protection against neck injuries and whiplash, the insurance industry reported in new crash test results.

Those minor fender benders might cost more than you think, according to new crash test results released Thursday by the insurance industry. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that most bumpers on mid-size cars do little to prevent costly damage to vehicles, even in low-speed crashes of 6 miles an hour or less.

Toyota Motor Corp., whose cars and trucks have helped set industry standards for affordable safety, had two of the worst performers in crash tests of the new subcompact sedans that are growing in popularity as motorists seek better gas mileage.

Imported models took all 13 spots on the U.S. insurance industry's list of safest vehicles this year, mainly because of a new requirement that all cars and sport utility vehicles on the list have systems to keep them stable in an emergency.