2010’s safest cars and trucks

Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2010. For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. This is the second time the Institute has tightened criteria since announcing the first recipients in 2005.

Subaru is the only manufacturer with a winner in all 4 vehicle classes in which it competes. This automaker earns 5 awards for 2010. Ford and subsidiary Volvo have 6 winners, and Volkswagen/Audi has 5. Chrysler earns 4 awards, continuing a recent trend of improving the crashworthiness of its vehicles. Two new small cars, the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul, join the Top Safety Pick list for 2010.

ALL 27 WINNERS

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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