A NHTSA side-impact crash test.

A NHTSA side-impact crash test.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the lineup of 2014 model-year passenger vehicles that will be tested as part of the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings Program.

In addition, the agency unveiled updated advertising guidelines for vehicle manufacturers, dealers and advertising agencies.

"Safety is our highest priority, and we're always working to ensure consumers have the information they need to buy safe and drive safe," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "With today's announcement, we are continuing to provide consumers with valuable information through our world-renowned 5-star rating program so they can make more-informed car buying decisions.” 

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings Program allows consumers to search crash test ratings and make informed purchasing decisions. Each vehicle tested can receive safety ratings in frontal crash, side crash and rollover resistance tests. Vehicles also receive an overall vehicle rating. One star represents the lowest score, while five stars represents the highest.

The program also highlights advanced crash-avoidance technologies, such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and rearview video systems, which manufacturers are voluntarily installing in vehicles to help prevent crashes.

The updated guidelines now explicitly state that ratings are always whole numbers and that NHTSA does not award a rating higher than 5 stars. Manufacturers or advertising agencies, NHTSA said, should not advertise ratings with decimal points or ratings over 5 stars, and advertisers who claim more than 5 stars are misleading the public. 

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The guidelines also clarify that advanced technologies are not part of the star ratings. Advertisements that do not conform to these guidelines may result in "buyer alert" warnings, removal from the ratings program or referral to other federal or state authorities for appropriate action, NHTSA said.

NHTSA plans to rate approximately 87 percent of 2014 model-year vehicles sold in the U.S. for frontal and side crash protection, and 92 percent for rollover resistance. A number of 2014 model-year vehicles had carry-over designs from the previous model year or have already been tested, and these ratings are already available on www.SaferCar.gov.

NHTSA will test 48 vehicles for the 2014 model year, including 22 passenger cars, 18 sport utility vehicles, five pickups and three vans.

As the vehicles are tested, consumers can access ratings at www.SaferCar.gov and through NHTSA's SaferCar app – available for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. The agency plans to release a version of the app that is compatible with Android devices in early 2014.

Model Year 2014 Vehicles Selected for the 5-Star Safety Rating Tests

 

PASSENGER CARS

Make

Model

Body Style

Buick

LaCrosse

4DR

Chevrolet

Impala

4DR

Chevrolet

Malibu

4DR

Chevrolet

Spark

5HB

Ford

Fiesta

4DR

Hyundai

Veloster

2DR

Infiniti

Q50

4DR

Kia

Forte

4DR

Lexus

IS250

4DR

Mazda

Mazda3

4DR

Mazda

Mazda6

4DR

Mercedes-Benz

E-Class

4DR

Mini

Cooper

3HB

Nissan

Versa Note

5HB

Scion

FR-S

2DR

Subaru

Impreza

SW

Subaru

XV Crosstrek

SW

Toyota

Avalon

4DR

Toyota

Camry

4DR

Toyota

Corolla

4DR

Toyota

Prius

5HB

Volkswagen

Jetta

4DR

 

 

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PICKUP TRUCKS

Make

Model

Body Style

Chevrolet

Silverado 1500 Series

PU/CC

Chevrolet

Silverado 1500 Series

PU/EC

Ram

2500 Crew

PU/CC

Toyota

Tundra

PU/CC

Toyota

Tundra

PU/EC

 

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SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES & VANS

Make

Model

Body Style

Acura

MDX

SUV

Acura

RDX

SUV

Audi

Q5

SUV

Chevrolet

Captiva

SUV

Dodge

Durango

SUV

Ford

Transit Connect

VAN

Honda

Odyssey

VAN

Jeep

Compass

SUV

Jeep

Grand Cherokee

SUV

Jeep

Patriot

SUV

Kia

Sorento

SUV

Kia

Soul

SUV

Mazda

CX-5

SUV

Mitsubishi

Outlander

SUV

Nissan

Pathfinder

SUV

Nissan

Rogue

SUV

Subaru

Forester

SUV

Toyota

4Runner

SUV

Toyota

Highlander

SUV

Toyota

RAV4

SUV

Toyota

Sienna

VAN

 

 

Model Year 2014 Vehicles Equipped with LDW and/or FCW

Selected for Confirmation Testing

 

PASSENGER CARS

Make

Model

Body Style

FCW

LDW

Acura

RLX

4DR

        X

   X

Chevrolet

SS

4DR

        X

 

Honda

Civic IMA

4DR

        X

   X

Hyundai

Equus

4DR

 

   X

Mazda

Mazda6

4DR

        X

 

Mercedes Benz

S Class

4DR

        X

   X

Mini

Cooper

2DR

        X

 

Mitsubishi

Mirage

5HB

        X

   X

Nissan

Altima

4DR

        X

   X

Subaru

Legacy

SW

        X

   X

Toyota

Avalon

4DR

        X

 

Toyota

Prius

5HB

        X

   X

  

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUPS, & VANS

Make

Model

Body Style

FCW

LDW

BMW

X3 or X5

SUV

       X

   X

BMW

X6

SUV

 

   X

Chevrolet

Silverado

PU/EC

       X

   X

Ford

Edge

SUV

       X

 

Honda

Crosstour

SUV

       X

   X

Honda

Odyssey

VAN

       X

   X

Mitsubishi

Outlander

SUV

       X

   X

 

KEY: PU – Pickup, EC – Extended Cab, CC – Crew Cab, DR – Door, HB – Hatchback, SUV – Sport Utility Vehicle, SW – Station Wagon

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