In recent news from automotive pundits, the Volvo C70 along with the Saab 9-3 was said to have won the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick Award. This is for the astonishingly excellent crash protection standards of both vehicles, the conclusion that the Institute reached after conducting the first safety test on ten middle-sized convertibles. The Volvo and Saab garnered top rating—which was designated with “good”–for protection in front, rear and side crashes. Both models also have in their arsenal of Saab and Volvo auto parts driving aids the standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that researches have already shown to help drivers in preventing possible crashes.

Meanwhile, the convertible model that received the lowest overall possible rating is the Pontiac G6. It earned an “acceptable” rating for its crash protection standards involving the frontal portion of the vehicle but the vehicle scored low—rating a mere “marginal”—on its rear and side impact protection.

On the receiving end of favorable reviews, the Top Safety Pick designation, the IIHS states, is a way to make it easier for consumers to opt for choices when it comes to vehicles that provide driving safety that is better than the average. Consumers thus are given handy material that they can utilize when they finally decide to settle on a vehicle they wish. The advantage of the list is that it proves entirely accessible for consumers. No longer would they need to scan pages of crash test results and piles of data that prove difficult for the layman to wrap his or her mind around. Such things, after all, do little to gain and hold the attention of a number of potential consumers. But with the list, consumers are provided with the conclusions they want–straight out. No pussyfooting sessions or long-winded discussions to suffer through.

For a vehicle to be judged worthy of the Top Safety Pick Award, it must be able to pass with high scores all three Institute crash tests. Aside from that, the car in question must also have ESC. The Institute also sets one more additional requirement for convertibles. This primarily refers to the need for rollbars built to preserve and maintain headroom for passengers and driver in the even that the convertible rolls over. This sort of foresight was put in place seeing as to how the increasing number of vehicular accidents each and every year. In this case, both Swedish auto parts maker as well as manufacturer has standard pop-up rollbars positioned behind the rear head restraints that spring up when sensors detect a serious crash.

The performances of the 9-3 and the C70 are applauded for being formidable. IIHS president Adrian Lund praises them laudably, saying “These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they’re shopping with safety in mind. The Volvo and Saab not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes.”

Goes, without saying as well that the quality of the Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 parts must be commendably top drawer indeed to merit such remarks. Lund continues “We wanted to test convertibles because sales are increasing. We also wanted to…see if crashworthiness improvements in mainstream cars are being built into convertibles. For the most part, we found that this is happening.”

Five out of the ten car models tested “good” for the front and side crash protection while seven had standard side air bags built to offer head protection to the occupants in the front seats. In addition, eight had ESC as a part of their standard or optional equipment pieces.

The models tested were the Audi A4 Cabriolet, BMW 3 Series, Chrysler Sebring, Ford Mustang along with the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Pontiac G6, Saab 9-3, Toyota Camry Solara, Volkswagen Eos and last, Volvo C70.