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