DETROIT — The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan is a Gold Award winner in the first-ever Top Safety Pick award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan also received an industry-best five-star rating in EuroNCAP’s front- and side-impact crash tests. The Top Safety Pick — Gold Award is a best-of-the-best distinction that recognizes car designs that provide the best occupant protection in front, side, and rear crashes based on IIHS testing. IIHS crash tests result in ratings from good to poor with top performers receiving a “good” and “Best Pick” designation. The 9-3 Sport Sedan received a Best Pick in both front and side crash tests. The IIHS frontal impact test is carried out at 40 mph against a deformable fixed barrier, with a 40% driver’s side offset. A deformable barrier constructed to resemble a full-size sport/utility vehicle is propelled at 31 mph against the driver’s side of the car to measure side impact protection. The rear-end test simulates a 20-mph rear impact into a stationary car, during which the front seat/head restraint performance is assessed. The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan received a “good” in this test.