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‘Tis the division for automotive groups and publications to duke out awards, but one of the latest stands out. It’s not based on baking zero-to-sixty times or lust-inspiring exteriors. This accolade is one that absolutely affairs to a lot of consumers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Assurance has arise their Top Assurance Picks for 2010.

In a columnist release, IIHS says, “Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs acquire the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Assurance Aces accolade for 2010. For the aboriginal time, adequate achievement in a roof backbone analysis to admeasurement aegis in a rollover is appropriate to win.”

In adjustment to authorize as a Top Assurance Pick, a car acquire to acquire top array from IIHS in front, side, rear and now rollover tests. The array admeasurement how able-bodied the car protects occupants during the blast tests.

There are some surprises on this year’s account — or rather, which automakers aren’t on it. No BMW or Toyota models fabricated the cut. Jalopnik reports, “Though BMW and Toyota aren’t the alone aloft automaker to not accomplish the account of 27 vehicles, they’re the a lot of notable because Chrysler managed to get four cars on the account and Volvo managed the aforementioned admitting accepting belts on their XC60 abstract in a side-crash.” Mazda, Mitsubishi and Saab are added manufacturers that acquire had top assurance picks in the past, but didn’t accomplish the cut this year.

The big winners are Volkswagen and Subaru. Volkswagen had four of its cars accomplish the list, while Subaru had 5 cars acquire top assurance aces status. In fact, at atomic one Subaru is a top assurance aces in every class except ample cars

The account of top assurance picks has diminished this year. While the Top Assurance Picks for 2009 had 94 cars on the list, the 29010 account has alone 27. The cuts came as roof-strength tests, which are aimed at barometer how able-bodied a car protects occupants in a rollover, were allotment of the accolade belief for the aboriginal time. IIHS explains the cuts further, acquainted “The Honda Accord best up the accolade the accomplished 2 years, but the 2010 didn’t acquire the appropriate adequate roof backbone appraisement to authorize (the roof is rated acceptable). The Ford Fusion is addition midsize car that alone off the account for the aforementioned reason.” However, IIHS President Adrian Lund says, “Honda and Ford would acquire to accomplish alone accessory changes to accomplish adequate ratings for roof strength, as the Accord and Fusion just absent the mark.”

The IIHS awards are meant to highlight cars that go aloft and above the appropriate minimum federal standards for safety. IIHS says, “Vehicles rated adequate [the accomplished account possible] acquire roofs added than active as able as the accepted federal accepted requires. The Institute estimates that such roofs abate the accident of austere and baleful abrasion in single-vehicle rollovers by about 50 percent compared with roofs affair the minimum requirement.” Top Assurance Picks acquire becoming the account of “good” beyond all IIHS tests.

The abounding account of winners is below.

Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80

Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu (built afterwards October 2009)
Chrysler Sebring (4-door with alternative cyberbanking adherence control)
Dodge Avenger (with alternative cyberbanking adherence control)
Mercedes C Class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30

Small cars
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with alternative cyberbanking adherence control
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza (except WRX)
Volkswagen Golf (4-door)

Midsize SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot (with alternative ancillary anatomy airbags)
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

If you’re in the bazaar for a new car, analysis out the U.S. Account rankings of this year’s best cars, as able-bodied as this month’s best car deals.