2011 Top Safety Picks: Audi A3, A4, and Q5

Many of us choose to buy Audi cars because they're stylish and perform well, but those with families (or who want to live through a crash, for that matter) are looking for safe vehicles.

Well, look no further. The influential Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) chose three Audi models – the Audi A3, Audi A4 and Audi Q5 – as 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK winners. This marks the third year in a row that these three Audi models have earned the Institute’s top recognition.

TOP SAFETY PICK recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners must also have available electronic stability control, a crash avoidance feature that significantly reduces crash risk.

Here's a video of a side crash test for the 2010 A4:




Side crash test for the 2010 Q5:




Front crash test for the Q5:




Front-runners: Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi each have 9 winners for 2011. Next in line with 8 awards apiece are General Motors, Ford/Lincoln, and Toyota/Lexus/Scion.