Ford (and its Volvo brand) and Honda (and its Acura brand) took home nearly one-third of this year’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Pick” awards. The Top Safety Pick awards, which were given out to 72 vehicles this year, are based on scientifically-proven crash worthiness in front, side and rear impacts.
The award is not limited to a certain number of vehicles per class, but rather is given to any vehicle which earns top marks in three separate laboratory collisions. Ford and Volvo combined had 16 award winners and Honda and Acura combined for 13 awards.
Honda, Acura and Subaru also stood out by taking home a Top Safety Pick award in each class in which they offer a vehicle.
Chrysler was the only major manufacturer to not receive a single award, though it did receive runner-up status for the Chrysler Sebring sedan and convertible and Town & Country and the Dodge Avenger and Caravan. According to the IIHS, those vehicles would have been Top Safety Picks had their headrests provided better protection against rear-impact whiplash.
The winners of the award are:
Large cars
Acura RL
Audi A6
Cadillac CTS
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Mercury Sable
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Acura TL, TSX
Audi A3, A4
BMW 3 series 4-door models
Ford Fusion with optional electronic stability control
Honda Accord 4-door models
Mercedes C class
Mercury Milan with optional electronic stability control
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Jetta, Passat
Midsize convertibles
Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Eos
Volvo C70
Small cars
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Mitsubishi Lancer with optional electronic stability control
Scion xB
Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control
Toyota Corolla with optional electronic stability control
Volkswagen Rabbit
Minicar
Honda Fit with optional electronic stability control
Minivans
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona
Large SUVs
Audi Q7
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Saturn Outlook
Midsize SUVs
Acura MDX, RDX
BMW X3, X5
Ford Edge, Flex, Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe, Veracruz
Infiniti EX35
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Nissan Murano
Saturn VUE
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota FJ Cruiser, Highlander
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Ford Escape
Honda CR-V, Element
Mazda Tribute
Mercury Mariner
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan
Large pickups
Ford F-150
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra
Small pickup
Toyota Tacoma
11/25, 11:43 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
That’s quite a list. Here’s your box of Cracker Jack, now run away and play.
11/25, 1:09 PM
posted by:
elviososa
wow…LEXUS is not there….
11/25, 1:28 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
“Chrysler was the only major manufacturer to not receive a single award”. That’s sad.
11/25, 2:09 PM
posted by:
atoms
but what about the worst, i want to see which chinese brand it is now
11/25, 2:20 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
11/25, 2:48 PM
posted by:
nshvlcat
Way to go Ford!
11/25, 3:50 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Thanks Volvo, Ford could not have done it with out you…
11/25, 5:21 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Thanks Ford, Volvo could not have done it without you…
11/25, 7:04 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Yeah go Ford!
11/25, 8:25 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
All right! Let’s give credit where credit is due…well done, Ford! Our boys certainly can compete against imports.
11/26, 12:52 AM
posted by:
elviososa
“our boys” still cannot….because this is just crash rating….and a lot of small details of the car are still behind. There are a lot of examples……n I don’t want to point every of them out.
It’s really funny that when you go to Toyota, Honda, and Nissan dealers to check out a car, the main concern is the price. But, when you go to GM, Ford and Chrysler, you have to see the car thoroughly before heading to the deal table. Don’t even to mention the knowledge of their sales. I am very confident that most people commenting here have better knowledge about the car than those sales people.
11/26, 2:10 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Elvio, I don’t know about you, but when I go buy a car, I check it out like crazy, and I do a ton of my own research and testing. I don’t care what the make is. Anyone that doesn’t thoroughly check out a $25,000 (or whatever you paid for your last car) purchase deserves to be taken to the back room, bent over the padded bench, and… well… for lack of a better word… “screwed”.
11/26, 9:05 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Where are those GMheads now?! poopmonkey
11/26, 11:46 AM
posted by:
wbent
Elvio, unfortunately you suffer from the same syndrome that the politicians and media all suffer from concerning competitiveness and “moral intent”. I would challenge you at any time on product knowledge. I sell all three domestics and have far more knowledge on the products offered then you could ever have simply because of my daily interaction with the product. Any fool that believes in the Toyota myth is just that, a fool. The Tundra and Camry are prime examples of smoke and mirror tactics employed by Toyota. Whether it is fuel economy, safety or quality I will stack Ford and to a lesser extent Gm against any manufacturer. Facts are facts and when research is done…..I mean real research you may be surprised at what you find. What makes the competitive inbalance is the manipulation of currencies, unfair tax incentives without labor conditions and the obvious labor contract excesses. In Toyota dealer twenty groups the concern is Ford……not the Koreans, Germans or PSA.