CHEVY EQUINOX, GMC TERRAIN EARN TOP SAFETY PICK+ RATINGS

By General Motors Oshawa, Ontario - The Canadian built Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain with available forward collision alert technology, earned 2014 Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States, the only midsize SUVs of nine evaluated to earn Good ratings in the Institute's small overlap front crash test.

The Equinox and Terrain join the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan, with similar technology, in earning the institute's highest safety rating.

The test, in which 25 percent of a vehicle's front end on the driver side strikes a 1.524 m (5-foot) high rigid barrier at 64 km/h (40 mph), is designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or a utility pole.

"Having the only two midsize SUVs that earned the Top Safety Pick Plus designation speaks to GM's focus on improving our vehicles by offering advanced crash avoidance technologies that can help avoid a crash, and by enhancing vehile structure and occupant protection if a crash occurs," said Gay Kent, director of General Motors Global Safety Strategy and Vehicle Programs.

"We are very pleased that the IIHS has recognized the safety of both the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain with this prestigious rating."

Equinox and Terrain previously were named Top Safety Picks.  The criteria for 2014 Top Safety Pick+ status was revised to include vehicles offering a frontal crash protection system meeting IIHS requirements, as well as achieving a Good rating - IIHS' highest classification -- in four of five crash tests, and no less than an Acceptable rating in the fifth test.  The 2014 Equinox and Terrain received Good ratings in all five crash tests.

The available forward collision alert technology on Equinox and Terrain uses a camera to detect when a driver is at risk of hitting the vehicle ahead, and delivers visual and audible alerts.  It is part of a safety package that also includes lane departure warning and rear park assist.  The package is availble on Equinox 2LT trim and standard on the LTZ model.  On Terrain, it is available on SLE-2 and SLT-1 trims, and standard on SLT-2 and Terrain Denali models.

Along with forward collision alert, Equinox and Terrain are equipped with six standard air bags, including dual frontal air bags, head curtain side air bags and pelvis/thorax seat-mounted side air bags; as well as an available rear-vision camera that helps drivers identify objects behind the vehicle.