Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Awards Top Safety Designations to Key Nissan Models for 2016

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recognized four Nissan vehicles with Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) or Top Safety Pick (TSP) designations for 2016. These latest announcements underscore Nissan’s commitment to continuous improvement to passenger safety across its entire lineup.

IIHS awarded the all-new 2016 Nissan Maxima a “Top Safety Pick Plus” (TSP+) safety rating, which is the group’s highest designation. The 2016 Nissan Maxima joins the previously announced 2016 Murano with the TSP+ rating. The Maxima scored “Good” in all five TSP categories and earned TSP+ status with a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention for those models equipped with Forward Emergency Braking.

The 2016 Nissan Sentra joins the 2016 Rogue in earning an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” rating. The 2016 Sentra will offer Forward Emergency Braking. Once that system is tested by IIHS the Sentra has the potential to be upgraded to a TSP+ rating. Nissan’s top selling 2016 Altima will undergo IIHS testing this month with the possibility of achieving a TSP+ rating as well.

“Nissan is proud to again have our core vehicles recognized by IIHS for vehicle safety,” said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Strategy and Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). “The new Maxima, like the Murano, is setting high standards in its class for styling, performance and interior refinement. The 2016 Nissan Rogue and Sentra demonstrate Nissan’s commitment to high quality and safety standards, and we are gratified that these outstanding vehicles have been recognized for excellent design.”

For this year, IIHS has tightened its standards by requiring a “Good” or better rating in all five of the crashworthiness categories to earn a “Top Safety Pick” and making an available front crash prevention system mandatory for all awards. To earn the IIHS “Top Safety Pick Plus” designation, a vehicle must earn a “Good” or  better on all five crashworthiness categories and also receive an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention.

All-New 2016 Nissan Maxima Safety and Security Features

Standard safety and security features on all 2016 Maxima trim levels include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection; front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors; and LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).

Every Maxima also offers child safety rear door locks; Zone Body construction featuring front and rear crumple zones and occupant zone; Nissan Immobilizer system and anti-theft alarm system. Maxima offers a variety of advanced technologies that are standard on three trim levels include Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), class-exclusive Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

Maxima offers Around View® Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD) system that features four small superwide-angle cameras mounted on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle that provide a "bird's eye" virtual 360° view around the vehicle. It provides additional selectable split-screen close-ups of the front, rear and curb views, helping the driver maneuver the car in or out of tight spots. Rear Cross Traffic Alert helps alert the driver of an approaching vehicle when backing out of a parking spot.

Moving Object Detection builds on the capabilities of the AVM system, helping enhance the driver's situational awareness by providing visual and audible warnings (front, side or back range object detection) if the system detects moving objects (such as another vehicle) within the displayed image in situations such as pulling out of a parking space. Using sophisticated image processing technology, the system detects moving objects within the virtual "bird’s eye view" (when the vehicle is in Park). When starting off or backing up, it detects moving objects crossing within the front or rear views, respectively.