Safe Cars 2006

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced 10 cars (2006 models) that win its first ever Top Safety Pick award. The awards recognize car designs that afford the best protection for people in front, side, and rear crashes, based on performance in Institute tests.

In each size-based category, two types of winners are selected: Gold and Silver. Winners of the gold award have earned good ratings in the Institute's frontal offset and side impact crash tests, and their seat/head restraints are rated good for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. Silver awards go to vehicles with good performance in the front and side crash tests plus acceptable seat/head restraint ratings.

Large Cars: Gold: Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego (Twin vehicles) ; Silver: Audi A6
Midsized Cars: Gold: Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy; Silver: Audi A3, Audi A4, Chevrolet Malibu with optional side airbags, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat
Small car: Gold: Honda Civic 4-door

Note: No minivans meet the Institute's criteria to earn a Top Safety Pick. Pickups and SUVs weren't included in this round of awards because side impact tests of most of these vehicles haven't been conducted yet.