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The most safest cars in 2010

Date: Nov 21 2010
Filed In: Auto Insurance101

The auto insurance industry is out with its ranking for the safest car on the roads in 2010. The list has been a lot shorter than the past years, but it is full of good news for Detroit auto makers.

Few vehicles got top mark this year from the auto Insurance Industry of Highway Safety but among the winners were American cars. Giving the year they had, any achievement is worth celebrating.

94 vehicles got the top prize for last year, now only 27 vehicles got the top ranking in 2010. This includes 19 cars, 8 SUVs. The large drop was due to tougher requirements for roof strength.

The new requirements by the Insurance Industry of Highway Safety for roof strength require the vehicle to support four times the vehicle weight in order to earn good ratings. The vehicles are also tested in front, rear and side crashes. For consideration of qualifying all vehicles must have electronic stability control to prevent skidding.

For the American auto industry, which were on the skid for more than a year there was good news in the Ford and its Volvo unit which got most awards for any company. Followed by Japanese auto maker company Subaru and the German Volkswagen, with five awards per piece.

Chrysler picked up 4 awards, and General Motors picked up 2 awards.

All vehicles have to meet all basic federal requirements in order to be sold. These are the vehicles that go far beyond that.
There are still major problems for Ford and the entire American auto industry. These auto safety awards and General Motors lower than expected losses might mean the automakers like the vehicles they produce are finally getting some stability control.

Insurance Industry of Highway Safety Awards for 2010

Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu built after October 2009
Chrysler Sebring 4-door with optional electronic stability control
Dodge Avenger with optional electronic stability control
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30

Small cars
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza except WRX
Volkswagen Golf 4-door

Midsize SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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