Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Picks for 2010
Nov. 18, 2009— -- Nineteen cars and eight SUVs earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2010.
The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job in the institute's tests of protecting people in front, side, rear and rollover crashes.
Subaru was the only car manufacturer to have winners in all four classes in which it competes. The manufacturer won five awards overall for 2010.
Ford and its subsidiary, Volvo, won six awards, compared with Volkswagen's and Audi's five, and Chrylser's four.
Cars from the largest automakers, however, were noticeably absent. A news release issued by the Insurance Institute noted that while Toyota and its Lexus and Scion subsidiaries did well in 2009 with 11 award winners, they were completely shut out this year.
And the new Honda Accord didn't measure up in terms of roof strength ratings after two years of being named a Top Safety Pick. The Ford Fusion, the institute noted, was dropped from the list for the same reason.
The popular Toyota Camry would have earned a Top Safety Pick spot, according to the institute, if its seats and head restraints, which protect against whiplash, had rated good instead of marginal.
The 27 winners, by category, are:
Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu built after October 2009
Chrysler Sebring 4-door with optional electronic stability control
Dodge Avenger with optional electronic stability control
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30
Small cars
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza except WRX
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Midsize SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
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