You've probably heard it through the years: "I'd love to drive a small car but, you know, they're just not safe."

Sometimes it's followed by: "That's why I got a [insert name of gigantic SUV], to protect my family." (Which isn't necessarily true.)

But now you can conclusively rebut those tired old last-century arguments. The new 2011 Ford Fiesta is the first subcompact to get the coveted Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) since new, tougher roof-crush standards were added to its tests.

2011 Ford Fiesta IIHS crash tests

2011 Ford Fiesta IIHS crash tests

2011 Ford Fiesta

2011 Ford Fiesta

Or in the words of Sue Cischke, group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering at Ford, "Fiesta is proof that a small car can deliver big safety."

In adapting the European designed Fiesta for the U.S. market--and its focus on crash safety--Ford replaced many structural members with a variety of types of high-strength steel. More than half its body structure uses high- or ultra-high-strength steels.

While a small car by U.S. standards, the Fiesta's passenger cell directs crash energy away from passengers.

The 2011 Ford Fiesta also comes standard with a remarkable seven airbags: dual-stage first-row airbags, side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, and a class-exclusive driver's knee airbag. 

[Ford Motor Co.]