Crash-Test Ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does not test all cars. Like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, IIHS concentrates its crash tests on the highest-volume vehicles.

This table represents the vehicles IIHS selected as Top Safety Picks for 2012. The winning vehicles afford the best protection in front, side, rollover and rear crashes, based on IIHS tests. For the 2010 model year, IIHS added a roof-strength test. The addition of the roof-strength test greatly reduced the initial number of vehicles selected as Top Safety Picks. A number of vehicles were added as manufacturers reworked existing designs and introduced new models. Winners also must be equipped with electronic stability control.

For complete crash-test ratings, visit www.iihs.org.

IIHS Top Safety Picks
Click on the image or model name to read its Cars.com report. All vehicles are 2012 models unless otherwise noted.
Compact Cars
Acura ILX 2013 model
Audi A3
Audi A4 sedan
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Volt
Dodge Dart 2013 model
Fiat 500 built after July 2011
Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback models built after July 2010
Ford Focus
Honda Civic 4-door models
Hyundai Elantra built after March 2011
Kia Forte sedan
Kia Soul
Lexus CT 200h
Mazda3 sedan and hatchback built after December 2010
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mini Cooper Countryman
Mitsubishi Lancer excludes four-wheel-drive models
Nissan Cube
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Nissan Versa sedan
Scion FR-S 2013 model
Scion tC
Scion xB
Subaru BRZ 2013 model
Subaru Impreza excludes WRX
Subaru XV Crosstrek 2013 model
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius built after December 2010
Toyota Prius c
Volkswagen GTI four-door models
Volkswagen Golf four-door models
Volkswagen Jetta includes Sportwagen
Volvo C30
Midsize Cars
BMW 3 series sedan
BMW 528/535/550 excludes four-wheel-drive models and V8
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Cadillac CTS sedan
Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Malibu Eco 2013 model
Chrysler 200 four-door models
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Lexus ES
Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen CC (except all-wheel drive)
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo S60
Full-Size Cars
Audi A6
Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Ford Taurus
Hyundai Azera
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai Genesis
Infiniti M37/M56 excludes M56x four-wheel-drive models
Lexus GS 2013 models
Lincoln MKS
Saab 9-5
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80
Compact SUVs
Audi Q5
Ford Escape 2013 model
Honda Element
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot with side torso airbags
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-5 2013 models
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volvo XC60
Midsize SUVs
Acura RDX 2013 model
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Durango built after May 2011
Dodge Journey
Ford Edge built after February 2011
Ford Explorer
GMC Terrain
Hyundai Santa Fe 2012 and 2013 models
Infiniti EX35
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento built after March 2010
Lexus RX 350
Lincoln MKX built after February 2011
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Venza
Volkswagen Touareg
Volvo XC90
Full-Size SUVs
Buick Enclave built after January 2011
Chevrolet Traverse built after January 2011
Ford Flex
GMC Acadia built after January 2011
Lincoln MKT
Minivans
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen Routan
Large Pickup Trucks
Ford F150 crew cabs built after February 2011
Toyota Tundra crew cab
Source: IIHS