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Three Reasons the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse SUV Received an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse midsize SUV earned the coveted "TOP SAFETY PICK" and another popular GM midsize SUV finished close behind.

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Chevrolet has reason to be proud. It’s 2021 Chevrolet Traverse SUV has just been ranked as one of the safest vehicles in America. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has given the Traverse its highest safety rating which carries a lot of weight in the industry. The 2021 GMC Acadia midsize SUV placed close behind the Traverse receiving a rating a number of “good” rankings in key tests.

Why the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is a IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK

  • The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse has upgraded the headlights in two of its trim levels to include LED projector headlights. The IIHS has determined that no vehicle can qualify as a TOP SAFETY PICK unless it has the upgraded headlights.
  • The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse earned “good” ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations – the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. The “good” rating is the highest possible for IIHS crashworthiness evaluations.
  • The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse can also be equipped with a front crash prevention system that earns “advanced” or “superior” ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. That is another of the Insurance Institute’s requirements to earn the TOP SAFETY PICK designation. The two optional automatic emergency braking systems available on the Traverse both earned “superior” ratings in the vehicle-to-vehicle evaluation. In the vehicle-to-pedestrian test, the Automatic Emergency Braking with Front Pedestrian Braking system earned a “superior” rating while the Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking with Front Pedestrian Braking system earned an “advanced” rating.

The 2021 GMC Acadia

The 2021 GMC Acadia performed great on all of the tests, also earning a “good” rating in the crashworthiness evaluations. The two optional front crash prevention systems available on the Acadia earned “advanced” and “superior” ratings in the vehicle-to-vehicle evaluations. However, according to GM, the vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation was not conducted with this vehicle. So, the GMC Acadia performed very well, it just did not have the vehicle-to-pedestrian technology on this model to receive the TOP SAFETY PICK designation. It is rated “Good” which is the level just below TOP SAFETY PICK. GM did not indicate if the Acadia is available with the vehicle-to-pedestrian crash avoidance technology.

“Safety for our customers through each of our brands has always been paramount to our operations,” said John Capp, GM’s director of Global Safety Technology, Strategy and Regulations. “The Chevrolet Traverse TOP SAFETY PICK award and GMC Acadia’s ‘good’ rating designations across a number of evaluations serve as a testament to GM’s global commitment to safety with all of our products.”

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is assembled at GM’s Lansing Delta Township manufacturing plant in Lansing, Michigan, while the 2021 GMC Acadia is assembled at GM’s Spring Hill manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Follow Mary Conway at @maryconwaymedia and send her car news tips for future stories.

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