The Audi Q7 has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2008.

The 2008 Audi Q7 received a “good” rating in all three crash tests: side impact, offset frontal and rear impact seat tests. In addition to the Q7, three Audi car models, the A3, A4 and A6 have also been recognised as Top Safety Picks in 2008, earning Audi the most Top Safety Pick designations in 2008.

Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America said: ‘For Audi, safety and performance have always gone hand in hand: our cars are engineered to offer the best not just in crash protection, but in preventing traffic accidents altogether. With the launch of the Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel in 2009, American SUV buyers will have even more options from which to choose for safety as well as fuel economy, convenience and performance.’

To qualify for the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must receive the highest rating of good in the Institute’s front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control, which Audi has standard on all its models.

Audi’s commitment to safety goes beyond crash test safety ratings to include a comprehensive list of active and passive safety features. The Q7 also features Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel standard on all models, providing high levels of active safety and traction on virtually any surface. All of these features are designed to help reduce the chances of a collision.