The 2010 Honda Insight and 2010 Toyota Prius were two of three of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newest 2009 Top Safety Pickaward winners. According to the Institute's website, in order to qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of "good" in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. The electronic stability control is standard on the Prius and optional on the Insight.
"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund.
The Prius scored a "poor" rating for its 2004-2006 models without optional side airbags in the side impact tests, but subsequent models have earned the Institute's "good" rating. No roof strength tests have been conducted by the Institute for either the 2010 Insight or the 2010 Prius.
Source: IIHS
