IIHS Top Vehicle Safety Picks of 2013

Car Safety Ratings for 2013 Vehicles

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides vehicle ratings each year using high-speed front and side crash tests to determine vehicle safety. The IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on 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. Car ratings for vehicles not specified below, as well as prior years' top picks, can be found on the IIHS website.

In order for a vehicle to be named a "top safety pick" it must meet the following requirements:

  • Earn a "good" rating in all three tests (front, side and rear, mentioned above).
  • The vehicle MUST offer electronic stability control (ESC), which has been shown to significantly reduce crashes, especially single-vehicle accidents.

2013 Top Safety Picks by Category

Minicars

Fiat 500

Ford Fiesta
sedan  |  hatchback

Honda Fit

Nissan Versa sedan

Toyota Yaris hatchback
(4-door models)

 

Small Cars

Acura ILX

Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet Volt

Dodge Dart

Ford Focus 4-door

Honda Civic 4-door

Honda CR-Z

Honda Insight

Hyundai Elantra

Kia Forte
(only sedan models)

Kia Soul

Lexus CT 200h

Mazda 3
sedan  |  hatchback

Mini Cooper Countryman

Mitsubishi Lancer
(except Ralliart and Evolution models)

Nissan Cube

Nissan Juke

Nissan Leaf

Scion FR-S

Scion tC

Scion xD

Subaru BRZ

Subaru Impreza
(except WRX)

Subaru XV Crosstrek

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius c

Volkswagen Golf
(only 4-door models)

Volkswagen GTI
(only 4-door models)

 

Midsize Moderately Priced Cars

Audi A3

Buick Verano

Chevrolet Malibu

Chrysler 200
(only 4-door models)

Dodge Avenger

Ford Fusion
(Built after December 2012)

Honda Accord 2-door

Honda Accord 4-door

Hyundai Sonata

Kia Optima

Nissan Altima
(4-door models built after November 2012)

Subaru Legacy
(Built after August 2012)

Subaru Outback
(Built after August 2012)

Suzuki Kizashi

Toyota Camry

Toyota Prius v

Volkswagen Jetta sedan

Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Volkswagen Passat
(Built after October 2012)

Volvo C30

Midsize Luxury/Near Luxury Cars

Acura TL

Acura TSX
sedan
 |  Sport Wagon

Audi A4
(only sedan models)

BMW 3 series
(only sedan models)

Lexus ES 350

Mercedes C class

Volkswagen CC
(except 4-wheel drive V6)

Volvo S60

 

Large Family Cars

Buick LaCrosse

Buick Regal

Chrysler 300

Dodge Charger

Ford Taurus

Hyundai Azera

Toyota Avalon

 

Large Luxury Cars

Audi A6

BMW 5 series
(except 4-wheel drive and V8)

Cadillac CTS
(only sedan models)

Hyundai Equus

Hyundai Genesis

Lexus GS

Lincoln MKS

Mercedes E class 2-door

Mercedes E class 4-door

Volvo S80

 

Small SUVs

Ford Escape

Honda CR-V

Hyundai Tucson

Jeep Patriot
(with optional side torso airbags)

Kia Sportage

Mazda CX-5
(2013-14 models)

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Subaru Forester

Volkswagen Tiguan

 

Midsize SUVs

Chevrolet Equinox

Dodge Durango

Dodge Journey

Ford Edge

Ford Explorer

Ford Flex

GMC Terrain

Honda Crosstour

Honda Pilot

Hyundai Santa Fe

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Kia Sorento

Subaru Tribeca

Toyota 4Runner
(Built after October 2012)

Toyota Highlander

Toyota Venza

Midsize Luxury SUVs

Acura MDX

Acura RDX

Audi Q5

BMW X3

Cadillac SRX

Infiniti EX

Lexus RX

Lincoln MKT

Lincoln MKX

Mercedes GLK

Mercedes M class

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

 

Large pickups

Ford F-150
(crew cab models)

Honda Ridgeline

Toyota Tundra
(crew cab models)

 

 

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