The 13 Safest Cars for 2013

By Admin on January 08, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is out with its list of the 13 safest cars for 2013.

All 13 vehicles earned the IIHS' designation of "Top Safety Pick+" for 2013. It's interesting to note that the IIHS only ranked 29 cars total for this highest mark. So almost half the cars they tested earned this "top" designation.

However, this may be a good sign, as it may indicate that vehicles across the board have enhanced their emphasis on safety. Here's a look at the 13 safest cars, followed by what makes them so safe:

Acura TL
Dodge Avenger
Chrysler 200 (two-door)
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord (two-door)
Honda Accord (four-door)
Kia Optima
Nissan Altima (four-door)
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Suzuki Kizashi
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo S60

In determining the 13 safest cars, the IIHS stated that it rated the vehicles based on performance in a moderate overlap frontal crash, a small overlap frontal crash, a side impact and rollover crash, along with evaluations of seat/head restraints. Each of the top safety picks earned good ratings for occupant protection in at least four of the five evaluations.

It's interesting to note the lack of luxury vehicles in the IIHS' list of safest cars. While the Volvo S60 and Acura TL may be considered expensive, the other award winners are moderately priced cars. It's refreshing to see that consumers do not necessarily have to pay more to obtain a safe car. Therefore, there is no excuse for car purchasers of any financial means to not purchase a safe vehicle.

And it's not just safety at stake, either. In general, a safer car means you'll pay lower auto insurance rates as well.

Along with the Top Safety Pick+ winners, an additional 117 vehicles earned the IIHS' "Top Safety Pick" designation. You'll notice the lack of the "+" sign in the lesser award. These cars scored just slightly lower on the IIHS standards.

With 130 top safety picks to choose from, there should be plenty of options for safe cars in 2013.

Related Resources:

IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013 (Auto Blog)
Which Are the Most Ticketed Cars? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
Are Segways Safe? (FindLaw’s Injured)