2012 Top Safety Picks
Vehicles that perform best in our evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
Small cars
Top Safety Pick
2012-13 Chevrolet Cruze 4-door sedan
Top Safety Pick
2012-13 Chevrolet Sonic 4-door sedan
Top Safety Pick
2012-13 Chevrolet Volt 4-door sedan
Midsize cars
Top Safety Pick
2013 Chevrolet Malibu 4-door sedan
Top Safety Pick
2012 Chevrolet Malibu 4-door sedan
Midsize SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2012-13 Chevrolet Equinox 4-door SUV
Large SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2012-13 Chevrolet Traverse 4-door SUV
2012 criteria
To qualify for 2012 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests.