Video: Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Selects Top Safety Picks For 2011
U.S. made cars show improvements
03/23/2011 | By Mark Huffman
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ConsumerAffairs.com
| AutomotiveA select club is growing larger. Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announces its Top Safety Picks and most years, the list grows longer. What's sometimes overlooked is that the list grows throughout the year, as manufacturers resubmit models after making safety modifications.
This year, 68 models made the initial cut, up from 58 last year and the number has grown since then. Recent additions include the Mazda3, Honda Odyssey, three large GM SUVs, the MINI Cooper Countryman, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. (Complete list below)
Volkswagen was the big winner this year, with six winners. Ford, Kia, Subaru and Toyota had five each and Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai each had four. Subaru had a winner in every class in which it competes.
“In just a year, automakers have more than doubled the number of vehicles that meet the criteria for Top Safety Pick,” said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “Automakers deserve credit for quickly rising to meet the more challenging criteria for Top Safety Pick.”
Mark Huffman describes the selection process in this report:
Here is the complete list of winners:
LARGE CARS
BMW 5
series
(except 4-wheel drive and V8)
Cadillac CTS sedan
Infiniti
M37/M56
(except M56x 4-wheel drive)
Mercedes E class coupe
Mercedes E class sedan
SMALL CARS
Honda
Civic
4-door models (except Si)
with optional ESC
Kia Forte sedan
Mazda 3
built after December 2010:
sedan
| hatchback
Mitsubishi
Lancer sedan
(except 4-wheel drive)
Subaru Impreza
(except WRX):
sedan
| wagon
Volkswagen
Golf
4-door models
Volkswagen
GTI
4-door models
MINICARS
Ford Fiesta
built after July 2010:
sedan
| hatchback
MIDSIZE CARS
Audi A4 sedan
Chrysler
200
4-door models
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
MINIVANS
LARGE SUVs
Buick
Enclave
built after January 2011
Chevrolet
Traverse
built after January 2011
GMC
Acadia
built after January 2011
MIDSIZE SUVs
Kia
Sorento
built after March 2010
SMALL SUVs
Jeep
Patriot
with optional side torso airbags
