The 2013 model-year Encoreluxury small crossover has joined all other current Buicks as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2013 Top Safety Pick. In addition, the Encore with all-wheel drive received a 5-star overall vehicle score for safety from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

With every model sharing the IIHS designation, Buick is one of just a few brands with a full line of 2013 Top Safety Picks. In addition, the Verano, Regal, LaCrosse, and Enclave all have a NHTSA 5-star overall rating.

The IIHS tests vehicles to determine occupant protection in front, side, and rollover crashes, and specifically tests seats and head restraints for neck protection in rear-impact crashes. To earn a 2013 Top Safety Pick designation, a vehicle must be rated “good” in all four tests.

NHTSA tests for its 5-star safety ratings program include front, side, and rollover testing, along with a side pole test simulating a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side. 

The Encore has 10 standard air bags, a standard rear-vision camera, and OnStar. In a rollover crash, sensors in the vehicle deploy standard head curtain air bags prior to impact and leave them inflated for an extended period.

Encore’s advanced body structure is composed of more than 60% high-strength steel that provides a protective safety cage around occupants. Other safety measures include standard four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, panic brake override, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, and a collapsible pedal system that reduces the risk of leg injury.

Available active safety features for the 2013 Encore include Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, a pair of technologies that use a single forward-looking camera to read traffic patterns and lane markers on the road ahead. Visual warnings and audible tones alert the driver to unsignaled lane changes or a slowed vehicle.

“Safety is a top priority in Buick’s product renaissance, as evidenced by receiving these latest safety accolades for Encore,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of vehicle safety. “Our customers can have confidence in the safety performance of every Buick for sale today.”