The warm and sunny Southern California climate makes it easy to understand how Los Angeles earned its car-crazed reputation. In fact, the cars we drive often reflect as much about who we are as they do about our style and preferences. But beyond the external attributes, there’s an even more important aspect to consider: Safety. It’s a broad term for a complex network of systems that work together to secure a vehicle and its occupants to keep them safe and sound.

Annually, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests and evaluates two aspects of safety. They look at crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — and crash avoidance and mitigation — technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity.

To determine crashworthiness, the IIHS rates vehicles based on performance in five tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. In the area of crash avoidance and mitigation, vehicles with available front crash prevention systems are rated based on the type of system and performance in track tests.

Acura believes driving a luxury car should be a highly enjoyable experience. And while the brand tends to dwell on the more exhilarating aspects of our vehicles, safety has always been a top priority. This month, Acura announced the 2017 Acura MDX earned Top Safety Pick+, the highest designation from the IIHS, for its fourth consecutive year. Acura earned a total of two Top Safety Pick+ (Models 2017 MDX and 2017 RDX with available AcuraWatch) and two Top Safety Pick ratings (Models 2017 ILX with available AcuraWatch and 2017 RDX), making the brand a top leader in safety ratings in the automotive industry.

Curious about AcuraWatch™? It’s an impressive suite of active safety and driver-assistive technologies offered as standard equipment on all 2017 MDX and 2017 RLX models, and available on all 2017 Acura sedans and SUVs. AcuraWatch technologies include Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF).

All new Acura models come with a multi-angle rearview camera as standard equipment.  Additional standard safety equipment on all models include Advance Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure; Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags (some vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor as well); advanced front airbags; and front side airbags.

In addition to active safety, passive safety features are at the heart of design. The first line of defense in collision safety lies in the structure of the car itself. Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) and unit-body construction are both engineered to help absorb crash energy and offer protection to the cabin and its passengers.

Inside Acura’s passenger cabins, advanced dual-stage, multiple threshold “SmartVent” front air bags, as well as front side air bags, and side curtain air bags help keep occupants safe when trouble becomes inevitable. Acura models are also equipped with breakaway steering columns and other systems designed to keep items under the hood out of the cabin in the event of a collision. This unrelenting desire for safety drives Acura to create technologies that are as innovative as they are effective.

Celebrating 20 years serving the community, Valencia Acura is a local, family-owned car dealership located at 23955 Creekside Road in Valencia. Valencia Acura has been recognized as a prestigious Acura Precision Team Dealer of Distinction for 10 years, awarded Acura’s Council of Excellence for 11 years, and voted Santa Clarita’s Best New Car Dealership for 13 years by the Signal newspaper. Owners Don and Cheri Fleming can be reached at (661) 255-3000. Visit www.ValenciaAcura.com.[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7q68VWLkI[/embedyt]