The Safest Cars of 2013

Is safety your top priority in a car? Then there are several choices for your consideration.

Each year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates cars based on their performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.

The cars are then rated with Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor in each of the four crash scenarios. In order for any car model to be named one of the Institutes Top Safety Picks, it must earn a Good rating in all four tests.

For 2013, the IIHS named these vehicles as their Top Safety Picks:

Small Cars

Acura ILX
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Sonic
Chevrolet Volt
Dodge Dart
Fiat 500
Ford Fiesta (sedan and hatchback)
Ford Focus 4-door (sedan and hatchback)
Honda Civic 4-door
Honda CR-Z
Honda Fit
Honda Insight
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte (sedan)
Kia Soul
Lexus CT 200h
Mazda 3 (sedan and hatchback)
Mini Cooper Countryman
Mitsubishi Lancer
Nissa Versa (sedan)
Nissan Cube
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Scion FR-S
Scion tC
Scion xB
Scion xD
Subaru BRZ
Subaru Impreza
Subaru XV Crosstrek
Toyata Yaris 4-door (hatchback)
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius c
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Volkswagen GTI 4-door

Midsize Cars

Acura TL
Acura TSX (sedan and Sport Wagon)
Audi A3
Audi A4 (sedan)
BMW 3 series (sedan)
Buick Verano
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200 4-door
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Lexus ES 350
Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes C Class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius v
Volkswagen CC
Volkswagen Jetta (sedan)
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo C30

Large Cars

Audi A6
BMW 5 series
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Cadillac CTS (sedan)
Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Ford Taurus
Hyundai Azera
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai Genesis
Infiniti M37/M56
Lexus GS
Lincoln MKS
Mercedes E class
Saab 9-5
Toyota Avalon
Volvo S80

Small SUVs

Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Hundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-5
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Midsize SUVs

Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Audi Q5
BMW X3
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Durango
Dodge Journey
Ford Edge
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti EX35
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Lexus RX
Lincoln MKT
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes GLK
Mercedes M class
Saab 9-4X
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Venza
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Large SUVs

Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Volkswagen Touareg

Minivans

Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen Routan

Pickups

Ford F-150 (crew cab models)
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra (crew cab models)

SafeMotorist.com Driving Safety Articles:
This article was written by SafeMotorist.com defensive driving staff writers and reviewed for accuracy by defensive driving instructors. All articles are based on current traffic laws and defensive driving practices. This article is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as legal advice or literal interpretation of any specific traffic law.