Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety releases its list of "Top Safety Picks" — a coveted designation for automakers and a good indicator for crash-worthiness and overall safety for car buyers. The IIHS rates vehicles as being "good," "acceptable," "marginal" or "poor" across five test categories: moderate overlap frontal crash, small overlap frontal crash, side impact, rollover and rear impact. To qualify as a Top Safety Pick vehicles must have good ratings for occupant protection in the moderate overlap frontal test, side impact, rollover and rear tests, regardless of their small overlap rating. These vehicles were ranked as Top Safety Picks for 2013.

View Slideshow:  The 13 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winners

Minicars

• Fiat 500

• Ford Fiesta

• Honda Fit

• Nissan Versa sedan

• Toyota Yaris hatchback

Small cars

• Acura ILX

• Chevrolet Cruze

• Chevrolet Sonic

• Chevrolet Volt

• Dodge Dart

• Ford Focus 4-door

• Honda Civic 4-door

• Honda CR-Z

• Honda Insight

• Hyundai Elantra

• Kia Forte (sedan only)

• Kia Soul

• Lexus CT 200h

• Mazda Mazda3

• MINI Countryman

• Mitsubishi Lancer (except Ralliart and Evolution models)

• Nissan Cube

• Nissan Juke

• Scion FR-S

• Scion tC

• Scion xD

• Subaru BRZ

• Subaru Impreza (except WRX)

• Subaru XV Crosstrek

• Toyota Corolla

• Toyota Prius

• Toyota Prius c

• Volkswagen Golf (4-door models)

• Volkswagen GTI (4-door models)

Midsize moderately priced cars

• Audi A3

• Buick Verano

• Chevrolet Malibu

• Chrysler 200 (4-door models)

• Dodge Avenger

• Ford Fusion (built after Dec. 2012)

• Honda Accord

• Hyundai Sonata

• Kia Optima

• Nissan Altima (4-door models built after Nov. 2012)

• Subaru Legacy (built after Aug. 2012)

• Subaru Outback (built after Aug. 2012)

• Suzuki Kizashi

• Toyota Camry

• Toyota Prius v

• Volkswagen Jetta sedan

• Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

• Volkswagen Passat

• Volvo C30

Midsize luxury/near luxury cars

• Acura TL

• Acura TSX

• Acura TSX Sport Wagon

• Audi A4 (sedan only)

• BMW 3-Series (sedan only)

• Lexus ES 350

• Mercedes C-Class

• Volkswagen CC (except 4WD V6)

• Volvo S60

Large family cars

• Buick LaCrosse

• Buick Regal

• Chrysler 300

• Dodge Charger

• Ford Taurus

• Hyundai Azera

• Toyota Avalon