The new Ford Focus has been designed with safety in mind, so it’s hardly surprising that it passes all safety tests in Europe and America with flying colors. The latest organization to confirm the car’s high level of safety is National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They awarded the 2013 Focus with five-star rating.

The NHTSA New Car Assessment Program test the car’s performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and a resistance to rollover evaluation. The Focus excelled at these tests thanks to its next-generation front and side airbag technologies. it also features the segment-exclusive Safety Canopy curtain airbags.

The new airbags in the Focus are quite clever and use a system called ‘tailor deployment’. They have a specially designed curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes. On smaller passengers, the effect is just the opposite because the occupant’s shoulder is below the vent, the gas vents out of the airbag.

The car also has a range of electronic systems to make driving safer, including AdvanceTrac with electronic stability control, Ford SYNC with voice control system, MyKey feature that allows parents to limit the top speed and music volume, and Active park assist.