2011 Toyota Sienna Van and 2011 Toyota Avalon Sedan Named Top Safety Picks

June 1, 2010 – Carson, Calif. – Carson Toyota is proud to announce, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna van and the all-new redesigned 2011 Toyota Avalon full-size sedan have each earned "Top Safety Pick" awards.

"We're so proud to have two Toyota's be awarded a Top Safety Pick award," said General Manager, Marty Brylski. "As a family van, the 2011 Sienna van offers drivers the convenience of so many features, from an advanced airbag system, 3-point seatbelts, front and rear crumple zones and much more."

The new Sienna is the first, and currently the only minivan to earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick since the rollover test was added to the criteria.

"The Avalon sedan offers many similar safety features that the Sienna van offers, but was created for savvy sedan drivers looking for a little extra; it has an emergency shut-off provision, in-mirror backup camera, updated gas pedal and more," said Brylski.

The "Top Safety Pick" is the highest safety designation awarded by the IIHS. To qualify for the award, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of "good" in the IIHS' front, side, rollover, and rear impact tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. The IIHS testing was made more stringent in 2010 with the addition of the rollover test.

To earn a "good" rollover rating, a roof must be able to support the equivalent of four times the vehicle's weight compared with the current federal standard of 1.5. In the IIHS testing, the Sienna roof withstood a force equal to 4.12 times its vehicle weight. The Avalon's weight withstood 4.07 times its vehicle weight.

The all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna van and the all-new Toyota Avalon sedan are currently available to purchase. While the 2011 Siena van and the 2011 Avalon won a "Top Safety Pick" award, all Toyota models meet or exceed the safety requirements of the federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Carson Toyota has been serving Southern California residents since 1974. With an inventory of more than 1,000 new and pre-owned vehicles in stock, a knowledgeable sales staff, expert factory-trained technicians and a state-of-the-art parts and service department on more than 10 acres, Carson Toyota is one of the highest volume Toyota dealerships in the nation. Visit Carson Toyota today at 1333 233rd Street in Carson, Calif. or carsontoyota.com.