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
