The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tested Ford’s 2013-MY Ford Focus and Buick Verano and announced both earned a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing program. NCAP evaluates vehicle performance in front and side-impact crash tests and in resisting rollover.

In terms of safety technologies on the 2013-MY Focus, the vehicle comes equipped with Ford’s Safety Canopy curtain airbags, which use a curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the airbag’s lower section to lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes.

The vehicle also comes with Ford’s AdvanceTrac with electronic stability contro; Ford SYNC with voice recognition to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road; MyKey, which can limit a vehicle’s top speed, block incoming phone calls and text messages, and limit stereo volume; and active park assist, which can parallel park the vehicle for the driver.

For the Buick Verano, the vehicle includes 10 standard air bags and the security of OnStar. In the event of a rollover crash, sensors in the vehicle deploy standard head curtain air bags prior to impact and leave them inflated for a longer period to provide additional protection.

Among other safety features, every 2013 Verano comes with a standard Rear Vision Camera that displays a view from the car’s rear bumper whenever the transmission is in reverse. Verano is available with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. These two technologies share a set of radar sensors hidden in the corners of the rear bumper that may help drivers avoid crashes when changing lanes or backing.