The best-selling cars in America aren’t the safest. At least, not this year.
Today the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) released its list of Top Safety Picks for 2011, and among the 66 vehicles named as the safest, you won’t find the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and other perennial top sellers.
“The Camry came very close, except it did not earn a good rating for rear-impact protection,” said Russ Rader, vice president of communications, in an interview with SafetyCheck.com.
The automakers with the most awards include Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi, each with 9 vehicles on the list. Next on the list are General Motors, Ford/Lincoln, and Toyota/Lexus/Scion, with 8 vehicles each. Subaru is the only manufacturer to achieve a winning status in all the categories in which it competes, with 5 vehicle awards.
The Arlington, VA-based IIHS, an independent non-profit supported by most major auto insurers, has issued the crash test ratings since 2006. It measures how well vehicles perform in front, side, rear and rollover crashes, including roof strength and electronic stability control.
In a statement, the IIHS noted that at the beginning of 2010, only 27 vehicles qualified to be winners, but several automakers issued re-designed vehicles that launched them into the winner’s circle. Among them were Ford, for the Explorer, Flex, and Fusion models, and GM, for the Chevrolet Cruze.
“Automakers deserve credit for quickly rising to meet the more-challenging criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK,” said Adrian Lund, president of the IIHS. “Several already have requested tests for new models due to ship early next year, so we expect to add even more winners to the 2011 list.”
That means, the Camry, Accord, and Altima — as well as the Honda CR-V, Toyota Corolla, and Ford Escape — still have an opportunity to make this year’s list.
Here is the current list of winners for 2011 Top Safety Pick, from IIHS.org:
Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
BMW 5 series (except 4-wheel drive and V8)
Cadillac CTS sedan
Ford Taurus
Hyundai Genesis
Infinite M37/M56 (except M56x 4-wheel drive)
Lincoln MKS
Mercedes E class coupe
Mercedes E class sedan
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A3
Audi A4 sedan
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200 4-door
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Volvo C30
Small cars
Chevrolet Cruze
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Kia Forte sedan
Kia Soul
Mitsubishi Lancer sedan (except 4-wheel drive)
Nissan Cube
Scion tC
Scion xB
Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback (except WRX)
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Volkswagen GTI 4-door
Minicar
Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback built after July 2010
Minivan
Toyota Sienna
Large SUV
Volkswagen Touareg
Midsize SUVs
Audi Q5
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Journey
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento built after March 2010
Lexus RX
Lincoln MKT
Mercedes GLK
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Venza
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Honda Element
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Kia Sportage
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
