For 2010, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced a far more stringent standard for awarding its coveted Top Safety pick – and a number of the best-selling cars in America, like the Ford Fusion , Honda Accord and the entire Toyota lineup, no longer qualify.
IIHS selected 27 cars in five categories for the 2010 award, down significantly from the 94 vehicles to win last year thanks to the heightened roof strength test standards. The only manufacturer with a full line-wide showing for 2010 was Subaru , which took home an award for each model it offers, aside from the WRX STi.
“With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all four of the most common kinds of crashes,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund in a statement. “Consumers can use this list to zero in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety.”
The awards required top performances in the frontal, side, rear and rollover evaluations. IIHS says that the Fusion and Accord would require some minor roof modifications, while the Camry would need head restraints that better protected against whiplash in a rear impact collision.
The new roof collision standards push a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. A good rating means that the roof withstood four times the vehicle’s weight without crushing more than five inches.
IIHS says that some manufacturers, most notably Chrysler , improved head restraints for the new model year and now are able to take home Top Safety Pick awards. Chrysler’s Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Journey and Jeep Patriot models all won awards.
It’s worth noting that some of last year’s winners have not been tested for the rollover standard. Most notably, the Acura RL , TL and TSX, Audi A4 and A6, BMW 3-Series , Cadillac CTS , Hyundai Genesis , Saab 9-3 , Toyota Avalon and Prius, as well as a wide range of midsize SUVs and small sedans, have yet to be tested.
Award winners
Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu (built after October 2009)
Chrysler Sebring sedan (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 sedan (except Si) (with optional electronic stability control)
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza (except WRX)
Volkswagen Golf four-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
