By Jerry Edgerton - moneywatch.com - As high gas prices have driven Americans to buy more small cars, they are getting an added bonus, beyond the lofty MPG: Small cars are much safer than they used to be.The latest example: The brand-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic was just named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, according to an annoucement today.
In all, six small cars have received a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. So as we near the traditional October 1 start to the new model year, here's a look at some of the 2012 models -- of all sizes -- that IIHS has declared to be among the safest cars. (The Institute will not release its complete list of 2012 Top Pick models until later this year.)
The Chevy Sonic, just going on sale, has an EPA rating of 40 MPG in highway driving -- joining the 2012 Ford Focus and Honda Civic to pair safety with fuel efficiency. "The list of cars with the best fuel economy now includes those with the highest crash-test ratings in their class," says IIHS chief research officer David Zuby. To get a Top Safety Pick rating, cars must get the highest possible score in front, side, rear and rollover tests.
The top rating for the Sonic, which covers both sedan and hatchback versions, is a big improvement from the small car it replaces, the Aveo, which got marginal ratings in three out of the four tests. Like many other new small cars, the Sonic has standard side airbags as well as electronic stability control, which helps prevent rollover accidents. In the rollover test at !!HS, the Sonic supported 5.37 times its own weight; four times is the minimum for a top rating.
Read the rest of the article at http://moneywatch.bnet/com/spending/blog/cars-money.
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