Jan. 3, 2013—The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded 13 models with its new Top Safety Pick Plus accolade for 2013, according to an IIHS press release_notes.
To earn the Top Safety Pick Plus award, all 13 vehicles received “good” or “acceptable” ratings in the recently added small overlap test, an evaluation that simulates what happens when the front section of a vehicle hits another vehicle or permanent object, such as a tree or lamp post, according to the release.
Among the winners were the Acura TL, Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, Subaru Outback and Volkswagen Passat, to name a few.
Experts say these vehicles are the safest on the road. "Models that earn Top Safety Pick also offer outstanding protection in many crashes," says Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "These vehicles are much safer choices than most vehicles on the market just five years ago.”
