Online Auto Insurance: New Top Safety Picks Show Strength of Hybrids

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, May 17, 2012 (Press-News.org) Two of the three vehicles recently billed as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were new hybrid models, underscoring the reliability of safety in smaller, economical cars that are hitting the market, according to Online Auto Insurance.

The 2013 Malibu Eco, a midsize hybrid, and 2012 Prius C, a compact hybrid, both scored the highest-possible "good" rating overall that is required for Top Safety Pick distinction.

The premium you pay can depend on auto insurance company ratings of the car you drive, so vehicles with better, cheaper claims data and safety awards may look like a good deal to insurers who could, in turn, charge less. Being a Top Safety Pick, however, does not guarantee cheaper rates. 

It may also be worth noting that though hybrids save their owners money at the pump, they often are costlier to cover under an insurance policy compared with their gas-only counterparts. 

This is the first year on the Top Safety Pick list for the 2012 Prius C and 2013 Malibu Eco, both of which are new to the auto market.

The Prius C was introduced as a concept car last year and joins the Toyota Prius, another compact hybrid, and Prius V, a moderately priced midsize hybrid, as Top Safety Picks. The Prius V also made its debut as a Top Safety Pick this year, while the regular Prius first appeared on the list last year.

IIHS gave the Prius C "good" grades overall in both side-impact and frontal crash tests. In frontal-crash tests, the Institute noted the possibility of head injuries because "high head acceleration occurred when the dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the frontal airbag." In side-impact tests, the vehicle got an "acceptable" rating for the safety of its structure/safety cage.

The 2012 Chevy Malibu was redesigned this year as the Eco with a motor with both gas-powered and electric modes, and is now only available as the hybrid model. The Eco also received the highest-possible "good" rating overall in side- and front-impact crash tests. In side-impact tests, the vehicle got the second-highest "acceptable" rating in protecting the driver's torso area because tests revealed the possibility of rib fractures, according to the IIHS.

Tests evaluating a car model's frontal safety involve results of crashes at 40 mph. Side impact tests are performed at 31 mph. To test roof strength, the institute uses a metal plate to push down on a top corner of a car model. The IIHS's roof strength test is based on the test performed by government regulators, but the IIHS employs minimum standards more than twice as high as federal safety standards.

Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/fmvss/index.html

The third vehicle to be placed on the list was the 2012 Hyundai Azera, a large-sized family vehicle. All three models recently made Top Safety Picks also got "good" ratings in rollover crash tests.

The list was last expanded late last year, when IIHS made added 18 new vehicles to its Top Safety Picks. There are a total of 115 vehicles in the institute's 2012 listing.

For more on this and insurance-related issues, head to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/companies/ratings/ for access to an easy-to-use quote-comparison generator and informative resource pages.