New crash tests: Small Cars Improve and the Top Performers Are Fuel Sippers

Six of 13 small cars recently evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earn the Top Safety Pick award, and none earns a poor rating in any of 4 tests. This is a turnaround from a few years ago when small cars struggled to earn top safety ratings. The new tests include hybrids and gasoline-only models that are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in the U.S. market.

Top Safety Pick Winners:

2012 Ford Focus

2012 Honda Civic

2011 Hyundai Elantra

2011 Lexus CT 200h hybrid

2011 Nissan Juke

2011 Toyota Prius hybrid

 "The list of cars with the best fuel economy now includes those with the highest crash test ratings in their class, too," says David Zuby, the Institute's chief research officer. "At a time of high gasoline prices, consumers have never had a bigger selection of small cars that earn Top Safety Pick."  Still, Zuby points out that small, lightweight cars "don't protect their occupants as well as bigger, heavier ones. Even though fuel prices sometimes defy gravity, the laws of physics always are in effect for cars. That's why it's important that the crash-worthiness designs of smaller cars be as good as possible. The new ratings demonstrate that small cars are much safer than they used to be."

Cheap Car Insurance Quotes