Foreign cars earned top marks for safety in a crash-protection study released yesterday.
Asian and European models accounted for all 13 vehicles ranked as safety “winners” in six size categories in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual crash-test awards.
Subaru received the most honors, placing three models — Legacy, B9 Tribeca and Forester — in the winners category.
Other models earning the institute’s top safety honor were Audi’s A4 and A6, Honda’s Pilot and CR-V, Hyundai Entourage, Saab 9-3, Kia Sedona, Mercedes M class, Volvo XC9 and Acura RDX.
No American vehicles earned top honors.
Vehicles earn the insurance institute’s top safety ranking based on crash tests at 40 mph. The test considers front-, rear- and side-collision protection.
The institute tightened its criteria for the current study, requiring all vehicles to offer electronic stability control systems (ESC). Many U.S.-made vehicles don’t have ESC systems and weren’t included in the study.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called for automakers to make ESC standard by 2012. The equipment monitors vehicle movement and steering, and may help prevent rollover accidents.
“The idea of tightening the criteria for the award is to encourage more vehicle-safety improvements,” Institute President Adrian Lund said. “Some of the 2006 winners don’t meet the criteria for this year’s award because the manufacturers haven’t improved the head restraints from acceptable to good or don’t offer ESC.”
Eligible vehicles are small, midsize and large car models, minivans and small and midsize sport utility vehicles.
“Our crash tests cover the most common kinds of real-world collisions,” Mr. Lund said. “Designating Top Safety Pick winners based on the tests makes it easier for consumers to identify vehicles that afford the best overall protection without sifting through multiple sets of comparative test results.”
“The lower-rated cars may turn off some buyers,” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Mass.
Consumers may be swayed more by poor rankings than higher ones because “people tend to think their cars are safe, unless they hear otherwise,” she said.
Not all foreign models fared well. Toyota had more models than any other automaker ranked at the bottom for rear-crash protection. Two Toyota vehicles — Avalon and Sienna — received a “poor” rating for rear protection. Four Toyota models received “marginal” rankings.
Its Lexus division had two models — the ES 350 and GS 350 — that received “marginal” ratings for rear protection.
“The Insurance Institute is looking for a certain type of headrest design, and that’s not what we have. But we think ours work just fine,” said Wade Hoyt, a Toyota spokesman. “We’re confident in the safety of our design.”
No American vehicles were listed as having poor or marginal rear protection.
This article is based in part on wire-service reports.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.