2014 Chevrolet Spark (Chevrolet)
Honda Motor Co. has topped the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on Thursday gave 39 vehicles top safety ratings for 2014. That is dramatically fewer than the 130 on the list last year because vehicles now must meet tougher standards.
For the first time, the vehicles need top crash test scores and a good front crash prevention system — such as warning systems or automatic braking — to get its highest designation.
Honda, which also owns the Acura brand, had the most winners of any automaker. Eight of its vehicles making the list.
The list is often used by safety-minded car shoppers and by automakers in advertising.
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2014 Top Safety Picks
Minicars
Chevrolet Spark
Small cars
Dodge Dart
Ford Focus
Honda Civic 2-door
Honda Civic 4-door
Hyundai Elantra
Mazda 3 (with front crash prevention)
Scion tC
Subaru Impreza
Subaru XV Crosstrek
Toyota Prius (with front crash prevention)
Midsize moderately priced cars
Chrysler 200 4-door
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion (with front crash prevention)
Honda Accord 2-door (with front crash prevention)
Honda Accord 4-door (with front crash prevention)
Kia Optima
Mazda 6 (with front crash prevention)
Nissan Altima
Subaru Legacy (with front crash prevention)
Subaru Outback (with front crash prevention)
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen Passat
Midsize luxury/near luxury
Acura TL
Infiniti Q50 (with front crash prevention)
Lincoln MKZ (with front crash prevention)
Volvo S60
Large Luxury cars
Acura RLX (with front crash prevention)
Volvo S80
Small SUVs
Mazda CX-5 (with front crash prevention)
Mitsubishi Outlander (with front crash prevention)
Mitsubishi Outlander sport
Subaru Forester
Midsize SUVs
Toyota Highlander (with front crash prevention)
Midsize luxury SUVs
Acura MDX (with front crash prevention)
Mercedes M class (with front crash prevention)
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Minivans
Honda Odyssey
(with front crash prevention)