The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced today the 66 recipients of a Top Safety Pick award for 2011, including 40 cars, 25 SUVs and a minivan.
The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Subaru particularly stands out this year as the only manufacturer with a winner in all the vehicle classes in which it competes.
The IIHS toughened criteria for Top Safety Pick by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test that involves a rollover crash.
Looking at the safest car brands, Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi each have 9 winners for 2011. Next in line with 8 awards apiece are General Motors, Ford/Lincoln and Toyota/Lexus/Scion.
At the other end of the spectrum, Acura/Honda's single winner is the soon-to-be phased out Honda Element. With the new criteria, the Civic only received two stars in the latest evaluation.
To be eligible, a vehicle must feature electronic stability control as either standard or optional equipment. The IIHS claims that its ratings help consumers pick vehicles that offer a higher level of protection than federal safety standards require.
The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Subaru particularly stands out this year as the only manufacturer with a winner in all the vehicle classes in which it competes.
The IIHS toughened criteria for Top Safety Pick by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test that involves a rollover crash.
Looking at the safest car brands, Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi each have 9 winners for 2011. Next in line with 8 awards apiece are General Motors, Ford/Lincoln and Toyota/Lexus/Scion.
At the other end of the spectrum, Acura/Honda's single winner is the soon-to-be phased out Honda Element. With the new criteria, the Civic only received two stars in the latest evaluation.
To be eligible, a vehicle must feature electronic stability control as either standard or optional equipment. The IIHS claims that its ratings help consumers pick vehicles that offer a higher level of protection than federal safety standards require.