Motor Trend reports, "Audi’s Q7 flagship SUV has received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) award for Top Safety Pick. The Q7 obtained this honor by rating “good” in three crash test areas: side impact, offset frontal and rear impact seat collisions.  The Q7 also has standard stability control, a must in order to receive the award."

What other large SUVs did the Q7 best in order to receive the honor?

Actually, none.

The IIHS doesn't normally bother to test large SUVs.  In a press release, the institute explains, "Because of their size and weight compared with most other passenger vehicles, large SUVs start with a higher level of protection for occupants in the most common kinds of front, side, and rear crashes. They also represent a relatively small segment of the passenger vehicle market. For these reasons and because of limited test time, the Institute doesn't routinely test them. The Q7 was tested at Audi's request."

Audi reimbursed IIHS for the cost of testing its big 'ute.  Institute President Adrian Lund told Canadian Driver that he's seeing that practice from several manufacturers this year.   "By requesting tests outside of our normal schedule, companies are able to get test results out to consumers faster, and they’re able to publicize that they’re offering their customers state-of-the-art safety. More manufacturers are requesting early tests of new models, or tests of models in categories we don’t usually evaluate, and we accommodate this whenever we can.”

Sure, it's a marketing gimmick.  But a company has to have confidence in its vehicle to take the risk of paying to have it crash tested.  This award gives Audi four IIHS Top Safety Pick trophies -- its A3, A4 and A6 have also won the honor (and each of those did have competition).

Motor Trend notes "This safety award is shelved next to others that Audi has collected recently, including J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 recognition for most improved automotive company in initial quality."

Research the best luxury SUVs with U.S. News' car rankings and reviews