A U.S. highway safety group has given its highest marks to a Windsor-built vehicle.
Stellantis announced last week that the Chrysler Pacifica earned the top safety pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2023.
"The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica stands alone among minivans with its 97 standard-equipment safety and security features and its renowned versatility," said Chrysler Brand CEO Chris Feuell in a media release. "The total package delivers the superior level of driving confidence consumers want and deserve."
The Pacifica was graded on how it handled three crash tests, the driver-side small overlap frontal impact, the passenger-side small overlap frontal impact, and the moderate overlap frontal impact. These are the three most common types of real-world collisions.
Stellantis cited the Pacifica's advanced high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel grades for the top safety score.
The Pacifica also benefitted from changes made in the IIHS' rating system to reflect headlight function and automatic emergency braking (AEB). The 2023 models feature LED headlamps as standard equipment with daytime running lamps, fog lamps, and taillamps. The vehicle also has a balanced beam of light for minimized glare.
The 2023 Pacifica is North America's only minivan that features second-row "Stow ’n Go" seating, and available all-wheel drive.