MINI has announced that the 2017 MINI Countryman has received the Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. To be eligible for the Top Safety Pick award a vehicle must earn good ratings in five crashworthiness tests as well as an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
The 2017 MINI Countryman earned the designation thanks to good crashworthiness ratings across the board, including the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. The MINI Countryman also benefits from an optional advanced-rated front crash prevention system, which in IIHS track tests at 12 and 25 mph, the system mitigated a collision, reducing the impact speed by 7 mph in both tests.
Unfortunately it missed out on the highest Top Safety Pick + rating because its headlights received a marginal rating. According to the IIHS, the Countryman’s low beams only provided good visibility on the left side of the road, while they were inadequate on the right side. The low beams also created some glare. With the high beams on visibility was still inadequate on the right side, but the high beam assist did compensate for some limitations of this Countryman’s low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.
“The new MINI Countryman is not only the best equipped MINI we’ve ever sold, but it’s also the most technologically advanced and most versatile model we’ve ever offered,” said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President MINI of the Americas. “We have seen strong demand for the Countryman since it went on sale back in March and we are thrilled to be able to add the IIHS Top Safety Pick award to the growing list of reasons why people head to their local dealer and take a test drive.”
Source: MINI
