The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released the list of 2012 Top Safety Pick Winners. The list has no less than 115 car models of which 18 are new winners while the rest of 97 were also on the 2011 Top Safety Picks. The winners’ list is also longer than previously since most car makers continuously improve their safety standards, being aware that car safety can also be a very good marketing tool. The list is divided in 13 sections according to various car categories. The vehicles listed below had the best impact behavior in the 4 most common types of crashes: front, rear, side and rollover according to the IIHS ratings.
Minicars category
Fiat 500 built after July 2011 (new 2012 winner)
Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback
Honda Fit
Toyota Yaris 4-door hatchback (new 2012 winner)
Small cars category
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Sonic
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Focus
Honda Civic 4-door
Honda CR-Z (new 2012 winner)
Honda Insight (new 2012 winner)
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte sedan
Kia Soul
Lexus CT 200h
Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback
Mini Cooper Countryman
Mitsubishi Lancer except Ralliart and Evolution
Nissan Cube
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Scion tC
Scion xB
Scion xD (new 2012 winner)
Subaru Impreza except WRX (new 2012 winner)
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Volkswagen GTI 4-door
Midsize moderately priced cars category
Audi A3
Buick Verano (new 2012 winner)
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200 4-door
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord (new 2012 winner)
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry (new 2012 winner)
Toyota Prius v (new 2012 winner)
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo C30
Midsize luxury / near luxury cars category
Acura TL built after September 2011
Acura TSX sedan and hatchback
Audi A4
Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes C-Class
Volkswagen CC except 4-wheel drive
Volvo S60
Large family cars category
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Ford Taurus
Toyota Avalon
Large luxury cars category
Audi A6
BMW 5 series except 4-wheel drive and V8
Cadillac CTS sedan
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai Genesis
Infiniti M37/M56 except M56x 4-wheel drive
Lincoln MKS
Mercedes E-Class sedan
Mercedes E-Class coupe
Saab 9-5
Volvo S80
Small SUVs category
Honda CR-V (new 2012 winner)
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Kia Sportage
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
Midsize SUVs category
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Durango
Dodge Journey
Ford Edge
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Honda Pilot (new 2012 winner)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Venza
Midsize luxury SUVs category
Acura MDX (new 2012 winner)
Audi Q5
BMW X3 (new 2012 winner)
Cadillac SRX
Infiniti EX35
Lexus RX
Lincoln MKT
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes GLK
Mercedes M-Class (new 2012 winner)
Saab 9-4X
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Large SUVs category
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Volkswagen Touareg
Minivans category
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen Routan
Large pickups category
Ford F-150 crew cab models
Honda Ridgeline (new 2012 winner)
Toyota Tundra crew cab models
[Source: iihs.org]
