The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released their Top Safety Picks for 2010, adding roof strength testing to their criteria. The addition of that test cut the Top Safety Pick list from 72 models to only 27.

The list of top picks shows that automakers have really stepped it up when it comes to vehicle safety in different types of crashes, even a rollover, and you don't have to buy a luxury vehicle to get it. Eighteen of the 27 models, more than half of the Top Safety Pick vehicles are under $25,000.

This is a huge improvement compared to five years ago, where side airbags and stability control weren't even optional on many lower-priced vehicles. Side-thorax and side-curtain airbags are now standard on just about every vehicle in the automotive market, while stability control is being standardized at a slower rate.

We expect every vehicle to have stability control as standard equipment by 2012 though. The list of Top Safety Picks will also continue to grow as the IIHS tests the roofs of more vehicles.

The 2010 Top Safety Pick vehicles at or under $25,000 are:

-Ford Taurus

-Chevrolet Malibu

-Chrysler Sebring

-Dodge Avenger

-Subaru Legacy

-Subaru Outback

-Volkswagen Jetta

-Volvo C30

-Honda Civic

-Nissan Cube

-Kia Soul

-Subaru Impreza

-Volkswagen Golf

-Dodge Journey

-Honda Element

-Jeep Patriot

-Subaru Forester

-Volkswagen Tiguan

We applaud the institute for their efforts over the years. Without it, automakers would have no reason to spend the time and money developing and testing their vehicles to meet the rigorous test procedures that make today's vehicles the safest ever. 

Source: IIHS