The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety list of top safety picks for 2013 and 2014 model-year vehicles features a new Top Safety Pick+ category, highlighting vehicles that stand out among those featured. The IIHS rates vehicles as being "good," "acceptable," "marginal" or "poor" across five test categories: moderate overlap frontal crash, small overlap frontal crash, side impact, rollover and rear impact. To earn the Top Safety Pick+ rating, a vehicle needs to be rated as "good" in four of the five tests and no worse than "acceptable" in the fifth test. Some 117 vehicles have earned Top Safety Pick honors so far this year, but only 24 are rated Top Safety Pick+. Here's a look at the best of the safest from the IIHS list.
Small cars: 2013 Dodge Dart
Like the midsize Dodge Avenger, the new 2013 Dart is a Top Safety Pick+ car. The Dart performed well in all-around testing, but excelled in the medium overlap front test, earning top scores in all aspects. There is a battery of airbags in the Dodge Dart: front and rear head curtain airbags, rear-seat mounted pelvis airbags, even airbags mounted in the lower instrument panel to prevent knee injuries, all of which contribute to Dart's strong safety performance.
Small cars: 2014 Ford Focus sedan and hatchback
The Ford Focus has earned the same high marks in each category of IIHS testing from the 2012 model year on, making it a shoo-in as a Top Safety Pick+ recipient. The only issue with the 2014 Focus seems to be with the structure around the driver in small overlap front testing, but the IIHS concluded that despite this there would be a "low risk of any significant injuries" in such an event. The Top Safety Pick+ rating applies to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the 2014 Focus.
Small cars: 2013 Honda Civic coupe and sedan
The only potential issue the IIHS saw with either 2013 Civic variant was in the leg protection capabilities of the coupe; otherwise, both Civics easily performed to the levels needed for Top Safety Pick+ status. After struggles with head-restraint ratings in the mid-2000s, the Civic has earned "good" ratings in every category from 2006 on. Now with the Top Safety Pick+ recognition for the 2013 models, the Civic has become a standard bearer for safety in the small-car category.
Small cars: 2013 Hyundai Elantra
Being a Top Safety Pick+ means a car performed to a high standard in a range of safety testing, but that doesn't make a car perfect. The 2013 Hyundai Elantra, which did very well in side and moderate front overlap testing, had issues exposed in small front overlap testing. "The driver space was not maintained well," says the IIHS report, yet it still concluded that there would be a low risk of significant injury in this type of crash.
Small cars: 2014 Scion tC
While everyone pays attention to the FR-S, Scion's tC manages to outperform it in IIHS testing — earning a Top Safety Pick+ nod. The IIHS expressed concern with the tC's structure and safety cage, but otherwise it earned high praise. The driver and passenger knee-level airbags contribute to its strong performance, as does the fact that for the 2014 model year the side-curtain airbags are now programmed to deploy in the event of a small front overlap crash.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Chrysler 200 4-door
Chrysler has continually improved the 200 with every model year, and IIHS recognition shows that its work is paying dividends. The 200's front and rear crumple zones and active head restraints work in conjunction with a litany of airbag systems, including front airbags that deploy with variable amounts of force dependent on the crash.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Dodge Avenger
The 2012 Dodge Avenger was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, and the 2013 Avenger continues the trend by being among the first class of Top Safety Pick+ cars. The Avenger features a full complement of airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, active head restraints and a special child-seat restraint system. With safety accolades to go along with its power and affordability, the Avenger makes a fine showing for itself in the midsize family sedan segment.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Ford Fusion
The all-new Fusion has been turning heads and earning accolades since its debut; an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award confirms that Ford has an all-around hit on its hands. The IIHS specifically cites Fusions built after December 2012 for the Top Safety Pick+ award. The all-new Fusion uses Ford's Personal Safety system, incorporating eight airbags, a restraint control module that gathers information from sensors around the cabin, and venting technology designed to enhance side-impact protection in order to deliver one of the safest rides on the market today.
Midsize moderately priced cars: Honda Accord coupe and sedan
In both its 2- and 4-door configurations, the redesigned Accord earns Honda two more IIHS Top Safety Pick+ honors in addition to the Acura TL. Using Honda's new Advanced Compatibility Engineering II body structure, the 2013 Accord's front frame is designed to disperse more energy away from the driver and passengers during a wider range of crash scenarios than previous models. The new ACE II body structure helped earn the 2013 Accord coupe and sedan high marks in small overlap frontal crash testing and overall Top Safety Pick+ status.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Kia Optima
Kia's affordable midsize sedan is impressing consumers all over the country, and now Kia will tout the Optima's IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition. The Optima scores an "acceptable" rating in the small overlap frontal crash results and "good" ratings in all other categories, thanks to its reinforced body with side-impact protection beams, active head restraints and seatbelt pre-tensioners.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2014 Mazda Mazda6
The small front overlap test of the redesigned 2014 Mazda6 revealed some potential for head injury in this type of crash. However, the Mazda6's performance in every other category was perfect, earning it a Top Safety Pick+ recognition. Earning an IIHS top honor is another feather in the cap of the new Mazda6, which has been impressing consumers and critics alike with its good looks and extensive standard equipment.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Nissan Altima 4-door
Awarded for Altima sedans built after November 2012, the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ isn't the first accolade the 2013 Altima has earned, but it may be the most exclusive. The Altima's zone body construction, 3-point seat-belt system, LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) system, airbag system and Vehicle Dynamic Control all contribute to its excellent safety marks.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Subaru Legacy
Subaru's commitment to safety is evident throughout its entire lineup, and its flagship sedan, the Legacy, stood out enough to earn a Top Safety Pick+ nod for models built after August 2012. Beyond Subaru's signature all-wheel-drive platform, the 2013 Legacy features a ring-shaped reinforcement frame, vehicle dynamic control and brake assist. In addition, Subaru's EyeSight system uses cameras to help avoid dangerous situations.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Subaru Outback
Not content with one model as a Top Safety Pick+ winner, Subaru earned a second with the 2013 Outback for models built after August 2012. Built from the platform of fellow Top Safety Pick+ winner the Legacy, the Outback features all of the Legacy's safety systems, along with a rollover sensor and a low-slung engine designed to submarine beneath the chassis in the case of a front-end collision.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Suzuki Kizashi
The Suzuki Kizashi had never received a Top Safety Pick from IIHS prior to the 2013 model. Ironically, the Kizashi earns the new Top Safety Pick+ rating as Suzuki prepares to leave the U.S. market. Suzuki's midsize sport sedan may be garnering attention too late to keep the automaker in America, but it's getting that attention nonetheless. Snagging the IIHS's new high honor is going to turn even more eyes toward the Kizashi.
Midsize moderately priced cars: 2013 Volkswagen Passat
With the side-curtain airbags reprogrammed to deploy in small overlap frontal crashes, the Volkswagen Passat sails to a Top Safety Pick+ selection for models built after October 2012. With what Volkswagen calls a "crash-optimized" front end, electronic stability control and an Intelligent Crash Response system that unlocks the doors, turns on the hazard lights and shuts down power to the fuel pump, the 2013 Passat is a smart safety pick for those in need of a family sedan.
Midsize luxury/near luxury cars: 2013 Acura TL
The 2013 Acura TL also stands out in the IIHS small overlap frontal crash test. Four other Acura models earned Top Safety Pick honors in addition to the TL's Top Safety Pick+. Acura's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure has much to do with its high safety standard. ACE uses a network of structural elements within the body to better distribute crash energy around and away from the driver and passengers during a frontal crash. With ACE II set to debut in Acura's redesigned lineup — and already being featured in the new Honda Accord — expect more Top Safety Pick+ nods in the future.
Midsize luxury/near luxury cars: 2013 Lincoln MKZ
The story of the Lincoln MKZ since 2007 is one of constant improvement under IIHS scrutiny. The 2010 MKZ saw a bump from "acceptable" to "good" in side and rollover testing. Now the 2013 MKZ has earned an "acceptable" rating in small front overlap testing. The overall effect was enough to earn the 2013 MKZ a Top Safety Pick+ nod, which was also given to its sibling model, the Ford Fusion.
Midsize luxury/near luxury cars: 2013 Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 excels in the IIHS small overlap frontal crash test. This test simulates a 40-mph impact between the front of the car and an object standing in for another vehicle or utility pole. The Swedish automaker's record is legendary, and the award of a Top Safety Pick+ shows how successfully Volvo has managed to excite and modernize its fleet without straying from its core tenets of safety and solidity.
Small SUVs: 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander
In a crowded small SUV segment, the impressive performance of the Outlanders gives Mitsubishi the bragging rights of being the only builder with two Top Safety Pick+ vehicles in the category (Subaru has a Top Safety Pick and a Top Safety Pick+). The only divide between the Outlanders is with the crash-test dummy kinematics under small front overlap testing: the 2013 Outlander Sport didn't do quite as well as the 2014 Outlander.
Small SUVs: 2014 Subaru Forester
Look up the history of Forester's IIHS performance ratings and you'll see that from 1999 on it has earned top ratings in every category for every model year. Even the results in the subcategory testing on the 2014 Forester reveal nothing but "good" ratings all around. A plethora of airbags and a sensor that deploys side-curtain airbags if it detects an imminent rollover make the Forester one of the safest small SUVs on the road today.
Midsize luxury SUVs: 2013 Volvo XC60
The Volvo XC60 swept every category of every test with "good" scores, making it an easy choice as a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle. With a rollover sensor, reprogrammed side-curtain airbags (to deploy in small front overlap situations) and built-in child restraints, the 2013 XC60 lives up to the Volvo standard of safety. The XC60 has performed perfectly in IIHS testing every year since its introduction in 2010.
James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.
James Tate cut his teeth in the business as a race team crew member before moving to the editorial side as Senior Editor of Sport Compact Car, and his work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Automobile, Motor Trend and European Car. When not writing, Tate is usually fantasizing about a vintage Porsche 911.
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