Top Safety Pick - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for model year 2008. IIHS bases their ratings of "Good", "Acceptable", "Marginal", or "Poor" on Geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that, according to the IIHS, when combined assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in an average real crash.
Five-Star Crash Safety Rating in all four categories - Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safecar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact airbags (SABs). Star rating based on model year 2009 Optima.
"Best Bet" Intermediate Category - Best bets are based on expected performance in nine categories (crash tests, safety features, fuel economy, rollover, overall, maintenance and repair costs, warranties, insurance costs, and complaints), with the greatest emphasis placed on crash test performance. Based on 2008-model-year vehicles in The Car Book 2008, by Jack Gillis.
