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IIHS 2009 Crash Ratings: 3 Small Cars Earn Top Safety Pick Award


PHOTO
2009 IIHS Top Safety Picks

SEE ALSO: New Car Buyers Guide By Brand

Arlington VA August 13, 2009; The 2010 Honda Insight, 2010 Kia Soul, and 2010 Toyota Prius are the Institute's newest Top Safety Pick award winners.

To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.

Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the Prius and Soul, and optional on the Insight.

"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund.

New Institute ratings for the Honda Insight | Kia Soul | Toyota Prius

TSP 09 awardTop Safety Picks 2009

To determine crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — the Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. To earnTop Safety Pick for 2009 a vehicle must have good ratings in all three Institute tests. In addition, the winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control.

 

See 2009 winners | see past winners

LARGE CARS

Acura RL

Audi A6

Cadillac CTS

Ford Taurus
2009-10 models

Hyundai Genesis
4-door models built after 11/08

Lincoln MKS

Mercury Sable

Toyota Avalon

Volvo S80

 

MIDSIZE CARS

Acura TL

Acura TSX

Audi A3

Audi A4

BMW 3 series
4-door models

Ford Fusion
2009-10 models
with ESC (optional in 2009, standard in 2010)

Honda Accord
4-door models

Lincoln MKZ
2010 models

Mercedes C class

Mercury Milan
2009-10 models
with ESC (optional in 2009, standard in 2010)

Saab 9-3

Subaru Legacy

Volkswagen CC

Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen Passat

Volvo C30

 

MIDSIZE CONVERTIBLES

Saab 9-3

Volkswagen Eos

Volvo C70

SMALL CARS

Ford Focus
2-door models
with optional ESC

Honda Civic
4-door models (except Si)
with optional ESC

Honda Insight
2010 models
with optional ESC

Kia Soul
2010 models

Mitsubishi Lancer
with optional ESC

Scion xB

Subaru Impreza

Toyota Corolla
2009-10 models
with ESC (optional in 2009, standard in 2010)

Toyota Prius
2010 models

Volkswagen Rabbit
4-door models

 

MINICAR

Honda Fit
with optional ESC

 

MINIVANS

Honda Odyssey

Hyundai Entourage

Kia Sedona

 

LARGE PICKUPS

Ford F-150

Honda Ridgeline

Toyota Tundra

 

SMALL PICKUP

Toyota Tacoma

 

LARGE SUVs

Audi Q7

Buick Enclave

Chevrolet Traverse

GMC Acadia

Mercedes R class
built after 9/08

Saturn Outlook

MIDSIZE SUVs

Acura MDX

Acura RDX

Audi Q5

BMW X3

BMW X5

Ford Edge

Ford Flex

Ford Taurus X

Honda Pilot

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Veracruz

Infiniti EX35

Lexus RX
2010 models

Lincoln MKX

Mercedes M class
2009-10 models

Nissan Murano

Saturn VUE

Subaru Tribeca

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Toyota Highlander

Toyota Venza

Volvo XC90

 

SMALL SUVs

Ford Escape

Honda CR-V

Honda Element

Mazda Tribute

Mercury Mariner

Mitsubishi Outlander

Nissan Rogue

Subaru Forester

Toyota RAV4

Volkswagen Tiguan