Chrissie Thompson
Automotive News
November 18, 2009 - 12:15 am ET

For the first time in three years, none of Toyota Motor Corp.'s vehicles received “top safety pick” ratings from an insurance group, as tougher criteria pared the number of selections from 94 last year to 27 this year.

Ford Motor Co. led all automakers for the second year in a row with six 2010-model top safety picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, including four from Volvo, a brand that's being sold. Subaru and Volkswagen AG finished next with five qualifying vehicles, and Chrysler Group had four. Offerings from General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Kia and Nissan also made the list.
The nonprofit insurance group, funded by auto insurers, tightened its top pick criteria for the second time since it started the award for the 2006 model year.
This year vehicles must have “good” ratings in the institute's rollover testing. Getting that rate requires doubling the roof strength required by the U.S. government, the group said in a statement.

That adds to existing requirements for receiving the “good” label in front, side and rear crashes and having electronic stability control.

Toyota was the only automaker among the six biggest in the United States that didn't have a winner. Before this year, Toyota, the world's top-producing automaker, had top safety picks in every year but 2007. The Camry almost qualified, the insurance group said. But it received a “marginal” rating in a rear crash test because the seats and headrests provided less than desirable protection against whiplash.

Here is a list of the 2010 top safety picks:
Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80

Mid-sized cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu built after October 2009
Chrysler Sebring four-door version with optional electronic stability control (ESC)
Dodge Avenger with optional ESC
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30

Small cars
Honda Civic four-door version with optional ESC; excludes Civic Si
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza excludes Impreza WRX
Volkswagen Golf four-door version

Mid-sized SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot with optional side thorax airbags
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan