GM Korea Co.’s crossover sport utility vehicle Trax has received the highest rating on safety by a U.S. agency, the company said Wednesday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently conducted a “new car assessment program” in which the Trax received the highest five-star rating, according to the Korean unit of U.S. automaker General Motors Co.

The NHTSA’s assessment program consists of a strict evaluation of safety for passengers, including frontal and side crash tests along with a rollover accident test.

The Trax, whose development and production has been led by GM Korea, also received the highest safety rating in the side pole crash test, which involves its driver seat side slamming against a pole at 32 kilometers per hour, the company said.

GM Korea said that the Trax was developed with the top priority placed on its safety. (Yonhap)