The 2011 Honda Odyssey has a new, impressive bragging right for safety-minded family shoppers: It’s the only minivan tested by the federal government’s tougher ratings system.

The new Odyssey has swept the NCAP Ratings with top five-star scores in frontal and side crash tests—including front and rear seating positions in the side test, and a top performance in the new side pole test.

Admittedly, at this time it’s the only minivan to have been tested under the revised New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In addition to the stability control, anti-lock brakes, driver and passenger front side airbags, and full-length side curtains that we’ve come to expect in this class of vehicle, Honda has also distinguished itself with the Odyssey in offering a class-leading six child-seat tether locations and five LATCH locations (the official clips)–enabling you to fit up to four child seats of any kind, or five in some cases.

The Odyssey also remains one of the best-handling minivans in our opinion, which might allow you to avoid that accident in the first place.

Other 2011 models that have earned five-star overall scores include the BMW 5-Series, Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Accord Sedan, Hyundai Sonata, Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Volvo XC60, Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, and GMC Sierra Crew Cab. The 5-Series, Cruze, Sonata, and XC60 are also IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Safety Picks.

The 2011 Odyssey hasn’t yet earned IIHS Top Safety Pick status, but it might; although it’s earned top ‘good’ ratings so far from the IIHS in frontal, side, and rear impacts, the agency hasn’t yet put it through the new roof strength test.

[Honda]

This story originally appeared at The Car Connection