Ford, Subaru, VW lead safe-cars list

November 19, 2009|Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Ford, Subaru, and Volkswagen lead the insurance industry’s annual list of the safest new vehicles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its “top safety pick’’ to 19 passenger cars and eight sport utility vehicles for the 2010 model year. It cut the number of awards, compared with 2009, because of tougher requirements for roof strength.

Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo unit received the most awards with six, followed by five awards apiece for Subaru and Volkswagen and its Audi unit. Chrysler Group received four awards, followed by two each for Honda Motor Co. and General Motors Co. Toyota Motor Corp., BMW, Mazda Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. were shut out.

Ford’s recipients include the Taurus, Lincoln MKS, Volvo S80 and C30 passenger cars, and the XC60 and XC90 SUVs.

Subaru won with the Legacy, Outback, and Impreza cars and the Tribeca and Forester SUVs. It attributed its success to engines that sit low in the chassis and move down in a frontal collision.

VW scored with the Jetta, Passat, and Golf, the Audi A3, and the Tiguan. Chrysler won for the Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans, the Dodge Journey mid-size SUV, and Jeep Patriot.