The safest cars for 2012

"The list of winners of 2012 Top Safety Pick, vehicles which recognizes high standards of protection against claims, is one of the largest since the establishment of the award."

On Thursday, the Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit U.S. organization funded by the insurance industry, posted the list of models with the best crash test ratings.

The award recognizes those who do the best job protecting people in the four most common types of accidents. This year, many manufacturers reinforced roofs to meet the performance requirement shift that was added in 2010.

Adrian Lund, president of the institute, said that "for the second consecutive year, a record number of well-qualified models." "It's hard to win and congratulate the producers for making safety a priority," he added.

Of the 115 outstanding vehicles, 69 are cars, 38 are off-road, 5 are minivans and 3 pickups.

All major manufacturers have at least one winning model, such as in the previous edition. Subaru, the Japanese auto motors, remains the only manufacturer that won the awards for the five models produced.

Toyota, meanwhile, owns the majority of well-qualified vehicles with a total of 15 types of units including Lexus and Scion stand. The Camry is on the list for the first time since it was redesigned its nods.

General Motors is second with 14 models, followed by Volkswagen and Audi , with 13. Ten of the 18 new vehicles from the list are Honda / Acura, including mid-size Accord sedan.

The institute said the vehicles received good grades in regards rollover protection had roofs that exceeded more than twice the strength required by the federal standard.

This year, surprise, also the large amount of green cars selected. Fifteen winners are hybrids, including Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf.

ALL 115 WINNERS (Bold Italics indicates newly-announced winners for 2012)

Minicars

Fiat 500 built after July 2011

Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback

Honda Fit

Toyota Yaris 4-door hatchback

Small cars

Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet Volt

Ford Focus

Honda Civic 4-door

Honda CR-Z

Honda Insight

Hyundai Elantra

Kia Forte sedan

Kia Soul

Lexus CT 200h

Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback

Mini Cooper Countryman

Mitsubishi Lancer except Ralliart and Evolution

Nissan Cube

Nissan Juke

Nissan Leaf

Scion tC

Scion xB

Scion xD

Subaru Impreza except WRX

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Prius

Volkswagen Golf 4-door

Volkswagen GTI 4-door

Midsize moderately priced cars

Audi A3

Buick Verano

Chevrolet Malibu

Chrysler 200 4-door

Dodge Avenger

Ford Fusion

Honda Accord

Hyundai Sonata

Kia Optima

Subaru Legacy

Subaru Outback

Toyota Camry

Toyota Prius v

Volkswagen Jetta sedan

Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Volkswagen Passat

Volvo C30

Midsize luxury/near luxury cars

Acura TL built after September 2011

Acura TSX sedan and hatchback

Audi A4

Lincoln MKZ

Mercedes C-Class

Volkswagen CC except 4-wheel drive

Volvo S60

Large family cars

Buick LaCrosse

Buick Regal

Chrysler 300

Dodge Charger

Ford Taurus

Toyota Avalon

Large luxury cars

Audi A6

BMW 5 series except 4-wheel drive and V8

Cadillac CTS sedan

Hyundai Equus

Hyundai Genesis

Infiniti M37/M56 except M56x 4-wheel drive

Lincoln MKS

Mercedes E-Class sedan

Mercedes E-Class coupe

Saab 9-5

Volvo S80

Small SUVs

Honda CR-V

Hyundai Tucson

Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags

Kia Sportage

Subaru Forester

Volkswagen Tiguan

Midsize SUVs

Chevrolet Equinox

Dodge Durango

Dodge Journey

Ford Edge

Ford Explorer

Ford Flex

GMC Terrain

Honda Pilot

Hyundai Santa Fe

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Kia Sorento

Subaru Tribeca

Toyota Highlander

Toyota Venza

Midsize luxury SUVs

Acura MDX

Audi Q5

BMW X3

Cadillac SRX

Infiniti EX35

Lexus RX

Lincoln MKT

Lincoln MKX

Mercedes GLK

Mercedes M-Class

Saab 9-4X

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