The redesigned 2015 Ford Edge has gained Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The previous-generation model had not been evaluated in the challenging small-overlap test. Ford reinforced the door-hinge pillar for models built after May 2015, minimizing intrusion to approximately five inches at the upper hinge pillar and achieving an ‘acceptable’ rating in the trial.
“The head was largely protected by the frontal and side curtain airbags, but the safety belt allowed the head and torso to move too far forward toward the intruding A-pillar,” the report notes. “Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.”
Lacking an automatic emergency braking system, the Edge does not qualify for the Top Safety Pick Plus award. It will also be removed from Top Safety Pick status if Ford does not revise the structure to earn a ‘good’ rating in the small-overlap test, as IIHS plans to implement tighter standards beginning next year.
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