Detroit's car brands collectively fall way behind foreign nameplates when it comes to crash-test ratings in a new report issued Thursday by the insurance industry's auto safety arm.
Only one "domestic" vehicle from General Motors, Ford Motor or Fiat Chrysler is among the 48 that made the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick Plus list. It's a midsize sedan, the Chrysler 200.
Ford fared the worst. While GM managed to land five models in the next tier, Top Safety Pick, Ford had only one, a big pickup. Fiat Chrysler had not only the 200, but landed one for Fiat, its import brand, as well, the 500X compact crossover.
Ford issued a statement that focused on the positive: "We are proud that the 2016 F-150 SuperCrew was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Safety continues to be one of the highest priorities in the design of our vehicles."
GM said in a statement that its "vehicles perform well in a broad range of safety tests, including the IIHS consumer metric tests," noting its models that earned spots in the second tier. It also said 18 models merited the top rating in the government's safety testing.
By contrast, Toyota has nine in the highest category, Honda has eight and Volkswagen and corporate companion Audi have seven, says IIHS.
The ratings are closely watched by the auto industry because consumers continue to list safety as a top buying consideration, especially when it comes to family haulers like SUVs, which have been among the fastest-growing sales segments. On Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is revising its safety ratings system for vehicles to give consumers more detailed information.
On IIHS' list, Detroit's poor showing contrasts with overall improvement by the industry as a whole. Last year, only 33 models qualified as IIHS Top Safety Plus Picks, although more were added during the year. This time, not only did more models win top marks in the initial ranking, but they did it despite more difficult requirements.
"We asked auto manufacturers do more this year to qualify for our safety awards, and they delivered," said IIHS President Adrian Lund in a statement.
In particular, a "good" rating in one of the most vexing crash tests — one that was initially leading to a string of failures — became a requirement. The test, called the small overlap, simulates what happens when a car piles into a pole or another car on the driver's side. IIHS says about one of four deaths and injuries came in frontal crashes in which the damage to the car was predominantly on one side.
Not only is progress being made when it comes to automotive design, but technology is playing a role as well. For instance, the IIHS notes that Toyota's new Scion iA sedan, priced at about $16,000, becomes one of the cheapest cars with an emergency automatic braking system. The system throws on the car's brakes if it detects an imminent crash.
Automatic braking is a requirement to be in the top tier. Besides the small overlap test, IIHS also has a larger front crash test, as well as side-impact and roof-strength tests.
"Ask for autobrake and forward collision warning features when you're out shopping for a new vehicle," Lund recommends.