IIHS Names 66 Top Safety Pick Winners for 2011
Buick LaCrosse, Audi A3 and Chevrolet Cruze lead their categories as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognises 66 vehicles for crash protection in its 2011 awards.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named 66 vehicles as Top Safety Picks for 2011, recognising models that performed best in the organisation’s crash tests and met strict safety criteria. The list covers a broad range of categories, with the Buick LaCrosse, Audi A3 and Chevrolet Cruze highlighted as the safest picks in large, midsize and small car segments respectively.
How IIHS judged the 2011 Top Safety Picks
To qualify for the Top Safety Pick award, vehicles had to earn the highest rating of “good” in all four IIHS crashworthiness tests: front, side, rollover and rear impact. Additionally, electronic stability control was a mandatory feature, either standard or as an option. The 2011 awards reflect the growing importance placed on rollover protection, with the IIHS including its roof strength test in the criteria for the second year running.
Mainstream brands and premium manufacturers are both represented. Winners in the large car segment include the Buick LaCrosse, BMW 5 Series (excluding V8 and four-wheel-drive variants), Cadillac CTS, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti M37/M56 (except M56x), Lincoln MKS, Mercedes E-Class (coupe and saloon), Toyota Avalon and Volvo S80. The Buick Regal also features among the top large cars.
Notable winners by category
- Large cars: Buick LaCrosse, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Volvo S80
- Midsize cars: Audi A3, Audi A4, Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Jetta
- Small cars: Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic (with stability control), Kia Soul, Volkswagen Golf
- Minicar: Ford Fiesta (built after July 2010)
- Minivan: Toyota Sienna
- Large SUV: Volkswagen Touareg
- Midsize SUVs: Audi Q5, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volvo XC60
- Small SUVs: Honda Element, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan
The SUV segment saw 25 models recognised, reflecting the increasing focus on family safety and the popularity of crossovers. Models such as the Audi Q5, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Highlander and Volvo XC90 all met the IIHS’s demanding criteria. In the small SUV class, the Honda Element, Hyundai Tucson, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan were among those awarded.
What the 2011 awards mean for buyers
For buyers, the 2011 Top Safety Pick list provides a reference point for vehicles that combine strong crash protection with stability control, a feature now standard on most new models. The inclusion of both family-focused SUVs and smaller cars means options exist for a wide range of needs and budgets. The Ford Fiesta, for example, is the only minicar to make the list, but only for models built after July 2010, reflecting a mid-year update to its safety equipment.
The IIHS awards are separate from those of Euro NCAP, which also published its own list of top-rated cars for 2011. For readers interested in the European results, see Ten Cars Achieve Five Stars in 2011 Euro NCAP Safety Tests.
