Chrysler Group’s 2014 Fiat 500L Ranks as IIHS Top Safety Pick [Travel & Leisure Close – Up]

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety named the all-new 2014 Fiat 500L a 2013 Top Safety Pick.

According to a release, the four-door B-segment hatchback was one of two Chrysler Group vehicles to earn the designation during the latest round of IIHS evaluations. In the last 10 months, a total of 14 Chrysler Group vehicles have been so commended.

Top Safety Pick testing simulates a side impact, front moderate- overlap impact, roof-crush consistent with a rollover, and a rear collision capable of inducing whiplash.

In each of these tests, the all-new Fiat 500L recorded the highest-possible rating of "good."

"The all-new 2014 Fiat 500L blends Italian style, a loft-like interior, great value and advanced safety features such as reactive head restraints and seven standard air bags, making it a unique proposition in the marketplace," said Jason Stoicevich, Head of Fiat Brand for North America, Chrysler Group.

The other Chrysler Group vehicle named a 2013 Top Safety Pick is the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee mid-size SUV, which is equipped with 10 standard air bags and features a 65-per-cent content ratio of technology steel.

The 500L and Cherokee join 12 Chrysler Group vehicles that have claimed Top Safety Pick status within the last 10 months. They include, according to IIHS segmentation:

-The 2013 Fiat 500 minicar

-2013 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger family cars

-2013 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans

-2013 Dodge Journey, 2014 Durango and 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee mid-size SUVs

-2014 Jeep Patriot small SUV

Three additional 2013 vehicles the Dodge Dart in the IIHS small- car category and the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 sedans among mid- size, moderately priced cars share not only Top Safety Pick ratings, but the new IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for performance in a small overlap front-crash test.

Among the more than 40 available safety and security features on the all-new 2014 Fiat 500L are technologies designed to mitigate the impact of collisions, such as:

-Multistage air bags, which inflate with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact; particular to the Fiat 500L is a design that includes tethers to shape the air bag (standard)

-Full-length side-curtain air bags, which extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers; each side air bag has its own impact sensor that triggers deployment on the side where an impact occurs (standard)

-Driver's-side knee air bag, which deploys with the driver's multistage air bag; located beneath the instrument panel, it is designed to properly position the occupant during impact and offer additional lower leg protection (standard)

-Seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air bags, which provide enhanced protection to the driver and front outboard passenger in certain impacts; each side air bag has its own impact sensor that triggers deployment on the side where an impact occurs (standard)

-Reactive head restraints, which deploy in the event of a rear collision by minimizing the gap between the heads of the driver and front passenger and their respective head restraints (standard)

-Three second-row head restraints (standard)

-Seat belt pretensioners, which remove slack from the seat belt system to affect forward movement of the occupant's body, thereby maximizing the system's efficiency; activated by impact sensors (standard)

-Digressive load limited retractors, which regulate force exerted on the occupant by the seat belt and then gradually releases seat belt webbing in a controlled manner; system features a digressive load limiter for the driver and the front passenger (standard)

-Three-point seat belts for front occupants; all rear seating positions have lap and shoulder belts (standard)

-Energy management system of three front load paths designed from high-strength steel manage vehicle crush and minimize cabin intrusion

-Crumple zones designed to deform during an accident to absorb energy from an impact, which decreases transfer of that energy to occupants

-Safety cage body structure, which protects occupants by managing and controlling energy in the event of an impact (standard)

-Side guard door beams, which provide occupant protection during a side impact

-Daytime running lamps for additional forward illumination; affects vehicle awareness

Chrysler Group, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, SRT, Fiat and Mopar vehicles and products.

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