ARLINGTON, VA — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) posted its entire 115-vehicle list of Top Safety Picks for the 2012 model-year. IIHS said that 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earned Top Safety Pick ratings. The list of winners includes 18 new recipients for 2012. Of those named in 2011, 97 models carry over to 2012.

"For the second year running a record number of models qualify," said Institute president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority."

Some of the automakers noted by IIHS include Subaru, which has an award for every model it builds (a total of five awards); Toyota, Lexus, and Scion have 15 winners for 2012; GM with 14; Volkswagen and Audi have 13; Ford and Lincoln have 12; and Honda and Acura have 12.

The Institute said it awarded the first Top Safety Pick to 2006 model-year vehicles. In 2007, it required good rear crash test results and Electronic Stability Control as either standard or optional equipment. In 2010, the Institute added a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test. The Institute added this test to assess how well a vehicle protects occupants in a rollover crash. The Institute groups winners according to vehicle type and size.

The IIHS List of 2012-MY Top Safety Picks

Minicars

• Fiat 500 built after July 2011

• Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback

• Honda Fit

• Toyota Yaris 4-door hatchback

• Small cars

• Chevrolet Cruze

• Chevrolet Sonic

• Chevrolet Volt

• Ford Focus

• Honda Civic 4-door

• Honda CR-Z

• Honda Insight

• Hyundai Elantra

• Kia Forte sedan

• Kia Soul

• Lexus CT 200h

• Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback

• Mini Cooper Countryman

• Mitsubishi Lancer except Ralliart and Evolution

• Nissan Cube

• Nissan Juke

• Nissan Leaf

• Scion tC

• Scion xB

• Scion xD

• Subaru Impreza except WRX

• Toyota Corolla

• Toyota Prius

• Volkswagen Golf 4-door

• Volkswagen GTI 4-door

Midsize moderately priced cars

• Audi A3

• Buick Verano

• Chevrolet Malibu

• Chrysler 200 4-door

• Dodge Avenger

• Ford Fusion

• Honda Accord

• Hyundai Sonata

• Kia Optima

• Subaru Legacy

• Subaru Outback

• Toyota Camry

• Toyota Prius v

• Volkswagen Jetta sedan

• Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

• Volkswagen Passat

• Volvo C30

• Midsize luxury/near luxury cars

• Acura TL built after September 2011

• Acura TSX sedan and hatchback

• Audi A4

• Lincoln MKZ

• Mercedes C-Class

• Volkswagen CC except 4-wheel drive

• Volvo S60

Large family cars

• Buick LaCrosse

• Buick Regal

• Chrysler 300

• Dodge Charger

• Ford Taurus

• Toyota Avalon

Large luxury cars

• Audi A6

• BMW 5 series except 4-wheel drive and V8

• Cadillac CTS sedan

• Hyundai Equus

• Hyundai Genesis

• Infiniti M37/M56 except M56x 4-wheel drive

• Lincoln MKS

• Mercedes E-Class sedan

• Mercedes E-Class coupe

• Saab 9-5

• Volvo S80

Small SUVs

• Honda CR-V

• Hyundai Tucson

• Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags

• Kia Sportage

• Subaru Forester

• Volkswagen Tiguan

Midsize SUVs

• Chevrolet Equinox

• Dodge Durango

• Dodge Journey

• Ford Edge

• Ford Explorer

• Ford Flex

• GMC Terrain

• Honda Pilot

• Hyundai Santa Fe

• Jeep Grand Cherokee

• Kia Sorento

• Subaru Tribeca

• Toyota Highlander

• Toyota Venza

Midsize luxury SUVs

• Acura MDX

• Audi Q5

• BMW X3

• Cadillac SRX

• Infiniti EX35

• Lexus RX

• Lincoln MKT

• Lincoln MKX

• Mercedes GLK

• Mercedes M-Class

• Saab 9-4X

• Volvo XC60

• Volvo XC90

Large SUVs

• Buick Enclave

• Chevrolet Traverse

• GMC Acadia

• Volkswagen Touareg

• Minivans

• Chrysler Town & Country

• Dodge Grand Caravan

• Honda Odyssey

• Toyota Sienna

• Volkswagen Routan

Large pickups

• Ford F-150 crew cab models

• Honda Ridgeline

• Toyota Tundra crew cab models