Kia Motor's Corp., South Korea's second largest automaker, said Wednesday that its Forte compact sedan has been picked as this year's "Top Safety Pick"in the small car category by the U.S.-based research firm, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Forte received the highest remarks in all testing categories by the IIHS, including the "Roof Strength Test in a Rollover"test, which was newly added from last year, reflecting the vehicle's reliability in all protection measures, the company said.
"The Forte model has been highly successful in the U.S. market with its outstanding design, quality, and convenience, and this award will only boost its popularity as it proves the car's safety measures as well," Kia said in a statement.
Since its release last year, Kia's Forte has sold approximately 39,223 vehicles in the U.S. market up until last month, and it was also named "Car of the Year" in 2009 by NADAguide.com, a U.S.- based automobile website, it added.
IIHS, first established in 1959, is an independent, non-profit, research firm funded by more than 80 auto insurers, and rates how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash every year.
