GMC pickups, SUVs top list of safest vehicles

Paul A. Eisenstein, NBC News contribution - 2 days

Once there was an old saying in the automotive industry, not "selling security." Do not attempt to convince today's drivers of it. Security has become in fact of one of the highest-ranked attributes for most car buyers if you are looking for a minivan or sports car.

So, a new study by Insure.com is expected to be more than a few surprises to deliver, if it comes, the list of the safest and least sure under 750 different vehicles now on the market. Some of the results like intuitive, especially to equate the size with safety. Pint-sized Fiat 500 is the least safe vehicle on the list, according to the study in cooperation with insurance Insure.com produced Institute for highway safety. On the other hand, the GMC Sierra 1500 was pickup the top model.

"If security is important, the smallest cars, you should avoid", said IIHS spokesman Russ Rader. "Weight counts. "Smaller, lighter cars are safer than before, but all things are equal, people riding larger, heavier vehicles more protection in crashes."

But there are also some surprises. While big GMC models four of the five "most secure" slots that became 4-door Porsche Cayenne ranked the second. On the other hand, that was car Mercedes-Benz car flagship, the premium CL 500 Coupe fifth on the list on the least-safe vehicles.

From the perspective of the brand General has good motor especially - as mentioned, which landing four of the top five slots get GMC brand. Together with Mercedes, Toyota, also in the bottom five landed, the Insure.com with saying little positive about the corolla model of R600 study. In other words, a bestseller does not guarantee always segment that purchasers will receive the best in terms of safety.

The study could produce a variety of methods for the determination of security some controversy as there. Take the Fiat 500, which has produced very good results in the IIHS crash tests using integrated security cage and airbags.

"But are the laws of physics getting in the game crashes," said Rader. "Weight counts. "Smaller, lighter cars are safer than before, but all things are equal, people riding larger, heavier vehicles more protection in crashes."

The Insure.com study drew injuries and medical payment records that suggest the researchers on an analysis of personal protection, provides an overview of how passengers, but as crash Dummies to make out in the real world.

Here are the best and worst of the group. Still more to learn as the rest of the current automotive line up fared, click here.

Five safest cars:

GMC Sierra 1500, full-sized pickup has physics on his behalf
Porsche Cayenne, four-door sports car scores well on security, also
GMC Yukon Denali, well contented SUV includes a variety of security features
GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE, a heavy version of the Sierra pickup
GMC terrain SLE1, 5-seater CUV results to the best.

Five at least safe vehicles:

Fiat 500, boldly styled Italian Coupe/Cabrio has numerous security issues
KIA Rio 5, sporty design overcome non-security
Toyota Corolla L, best selling compact to worst for security
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, sportiest version of the Lancer Sedan
Disadvantages overcome not safety Mercedes-Benz CL600, sleek design.