2010 Safest Cars: IIHS Top Safety Picks

The number of vehicles designated as Top Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) dropped by a third in 2010, largely because of tougher testing standards, including a newly instituted roof-crush test. In conjunction with the roof test, the IIHS conducts high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, and test of seat/head restraints to protect against neck injuries such as whiplash.

The IIHS, a nonprofit organization funded by auto insurers, rates tested vehicles as Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor. In order to earn the 2010 Top Safety Pick designation, a ... Back to article