A certain Volkswagen sedan has established a reputation of safety over the last few years, and recent praise from an authority in the matter could help sell used Jettas in New Jersey.

The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta is one of the 19 cars the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says is very safe, according to USA Today. This may not come as a big surprise to some, as this generation Jetta has been an IIHS favorite since its inception in 2005.

VW refers to its latest generation Jetta as the Mark 5 because this model has been redesigned four times since it was first manufactured in 1979. The Mark 5 began rolling out of the plant about four years ago, and IIHS has given the sedan its top safety rating in front, side, roof and rear crash protection every year since, according to the institute’s website.

Performance-wise, the Jetta is no slouch, either. The top trim level for the 2007 Mark 5 was the GLI – a Jetta that came with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 200 horsepower and got to 60 MPH in about 8 seconds, according to Edmunds.com.

Another favorable rating from the IIHS could help sell used Jettas in New Jersey and elsewhere to people who see safety as a top priority.