The renowned US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Audi A4 its highest rating of "Best Pick".

This excellent rating comes as a direct result from a side impact crash test completed by the Ingolstadt-built saloon in the USA.

Together with an outstanding result in the frontal crash performed at 64 km/h, the outcome of the side impact test means the A4 has earned the top rating of "Double Best Pick".

The IIHS regularly carries out crash tests on behalf of the US insurance industry on passenger vehicles of all kinds to establish their safety standard. Experts and car buyers alike, both within and outside the USA, pay considerable attention to test results as an important, independent third party review.

In the IIHS side impact test, vehicles are struck by a moving barrier at a speed of 31 mph (50 km/h). The barrier is shaped to resemble the front end of a utility vehicle or SUV. Structural deformation, as well as the kinematics and stresses to which passengers are subjected in a crash situation, are then evaluated.

The outstandingly low loads measured for the A4 are thanks to its rigid body and standard restraint systems, including the SIDEGUARD head-level curtain airbag system.