115 winners awarded 2012 Top Safety Pick from IIHS, Subaru picks up 5
With 18 new winners, this year’s Top Safety Pick is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s longest yet, breaking the record with models spanning a variety of segments.
The Top Safety Pick Award is based on evaluations done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which include the 4 most common types of crashes and the cars that do the best in front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection. Winning criteria has not changed from this year to last. Although ESC no longer being required because as of the 2012 model year, all vehicles must be equipped with it.
In total, 115 models have been awarded, 69 of which are cars and 38 SUV’s are included, along with 5 minivans and 3 pickups. Ninety-seven of these models were 201 Top Safety picks, as well.
“For the second year running a record number of models qualify,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “It’s tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority.”
All of the major automakers have a winner in the Top Safety Pick this year, as was the case for last year. Even though last year many vehicles failed the roll-over test, the 66 that originally passed grew because the Institute tests all year long, so as improvements were made, the list got longer.
Subaru is the only automaker who earns an award for every model in its lineup. Toyota, along with Lexus and Scion brands, take awards for 15 of the 2012 models made, GM has 14, Volkswagen and Audi take 13 together, Ford and Lincoln make up for 12 awards, as do Honda and Acura.
“Honda/Acura deserves credit for most-improved status,” Lund says. “The automaker buckled down and upgraded roofs on 10 models that missed winning last year because of rollover protection. Now, the automaker has winners in the minicar, small car, midsize car, small SUV, midsize SUV, minivan, and large pickup categories.”
“It’s great to see the Accord and Camry, 2 of the top-selling midsize cars in the U.S. market, join the Top Safety Pick ranks this year,” Lund says. “The Accord previously won the 2009 award but has been missing from the list since then.”
The emphasis on rollover protection seems largely due to the Institutes findings that roofs need twice the strength the government requires them to have to protect against fatalities in crashes.
“When we launched Top Safety Pick in 2005, consumers had 11 models to pick from. Six years later, finding a winner that fits most budgets and lifestyles is easy,” Lund says. “It’s a testament to the commitment automakers have made to going above and beyond minimum safety standards.”
ALL 115 WINNERS:
Minicars
Fiat 500 built after July 2011
Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback
Honda Fit
Toyota Yaris 4-door hatchback
Small cars
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Sonic
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Focus
Honda Civic 4-door
Honda CR-Z
Honda Insight
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte sedan
Kia Soul
Lexus CT 200h
Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback
Mini Cooper Countryman
Mitsubishi Lancer except Ralliart and Evolution
Nissan Cube
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Scion tC
Scion xB
Scion xD
Subaru Impreza except WRX
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Volkswagen GTI 4-door
Midsize moderately priced cars
Audi A3
Buick Verano
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200 4-door
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius v
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo C30
Midsize luxury/near luxury cars
Acura TL built after September 2011
Acura TSX sedan and hatchback
Audi A4
Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes C-Class
Volkswagen CC except 4-wheel drive
Volvo S60
Large family cars
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Ford Taurus
Toyota Avalon
Large luxury cars
Audi A6
BMW 5 series except 4-wheel drive and V8
Cadillac CTS sedan
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai Genesis
Infiniti M37/M56 except M56x 4-wheel drive
Lincoln MKS
Mercedes E-Class sedan
Mercedes E-Class coupe
Saab 9-5
Volvo S80
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Kia Sportage
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
Midsize SUVs
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Durango
Dodge Journey
Ford Edge
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Venza
Midsize luxury SUVs
Acura MDX
Audi Q5
BMW X3
Cadillac SRX
Infiniti EX35
Lexus RX
Lincoln MKT
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes GLK
Mercedes M-Class
Saab 9-4X
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Large SUVs
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Volkswagen Touareg
Minivans
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen Routan
Large pickups
Ford F-150 crew cab models
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra crew cab models
– By: Alexandra Koken
