Nineteen cars and eight SUV’s won this year’s award, and for the first time, a good performance in a roof strength test that measures protection in a rollover is needed to win.
The test also measured protection for front, side and rear crashes.
Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen 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 Wednesday 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.
The Toyota Camry would have made the list, the Institute said, if it had received the highest rating in rear crash protection. The Institute said the Camry’s seats and head restraints were rated marginal for protection against whiplash injuries. Toyota Motor, BMW, Mazda and Mitsubishi were shut out in the annual IIHS review.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 am
[...] The safest cars in 2010 [...]
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
[...] The safest cars in 2010 [...]