WASHINGTON — Ford, Subaru and Volks wagen sit atop the insurance industry’s annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.
The Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its “top safety pick” on Tuesday to 19 passenger cars and eight sport utility vehicles for the 2010 model year. The institute substantially reduced the number of awards compared with 2009 because of tougher requirements for roof strength.
Ford and its Volvo unit received the most awards with six, followed by five awards apiece for Japanese automaker Subaru and German automaker Volkswagen and its Audi unit.
Chrysler received four awards followed by two each for Honda and General Motors.
Toyota, BMW, Mazda and Mitsubishi were shut out in the annual IIHS review.
Ford’s recipients include the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS passenger cars and the Volvo S80 and C30 passenger cars and the XC60 and XC90 SUVs.
Ford said in a statement it is “committed to providing customers with safe vehicles for a broad range of real-world crash conditions.” Subaru recorded winners with the Subaru Legacy, Outback and Impreza cars and Tribeca and Forester SUVs.
Subaru was the only automaker with an IIHS winner in all four vehicle classes in which it competes.
The Honda Accord and the Ford Fusion dropped off the list because 2010 versions didn’t earn high enough scores on the roof test.
The Toyota Camry would have made the list, the Institute said, if it had received the highest rating in rear crash protection.
27 vehicles make insurance industry’s “safest” list
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named 27 vehicles as winners of its top safety- pick award for the 2010 model year. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting motorists in front, side, rear and rollover crashes and have anti-rollover technology called Electronic Stability Control.
LARGE CARS
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80
MIDSIZE CARS
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu (built after Oct.)
Chrysler Sebring (4-door with optional ESC)
Dodge Avenger
Mercedes C Class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta (4-door)
Volkswagen Passat (4-door)
Volvo C30
SMALL CARS
Honda Civic (4-door with optional ESC, except Si)
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza (except WRX)
Volkswagen Golf (4-door)
MIDSIZE SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
SMALL SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot (with optional side thorax airbags)
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
