Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested additional small cars from the 2009 model year and discovered that 11 out of the 21 cars that were tested claimed a Good rating in side crash tests, which is the top rating.  That’s a significant increase from the three out of 19 small cars back in 2006 that got that rating.

However, it is notable that out of the seven cars tested in this round, none of them received the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic did.  Among the cars with the highest rating were the Ford Focus, Suzuki SX4, the Toyota Matrix, and the Pontiac Vibe.  The poorest scoring car was by far the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which scored Poor in rear and side tests.

IIHS made it a point to say that although small cars have made large improvements, large cars are still a safer choice.

IIHS senior vice president Joe Nolan said, “There’s no escaping the laws of physics.  People in larger, heavier cars fare better in crashes with other vehicles and in single-vehicle crashes than people in smaller ones.”

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with vehicle safety, and tests show that small cars are improving greatly in crash tests.  Motorists can also protect themselves by purchasing an auto warranty and keeping up with car maintenance.