Mar 20, 2012

Of the nine vehicles on the Forbes list of the Toughest Cars for 2012 list, five are Toyota products — Toyota Highlander, Prius and Sienna and Scion xB and xD. Forbes based its conclusions on the research, dependability studies, and safety testing of J.D. Power and Associates, Consumer Reports, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). First, the publication selected vehicles in each segment (including cars, minivans, SUVs, and crossovers, but excluding trucks) that received a “Top Three” rating in the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Next, it compared that list with Consumer Reports “Most Reliable” vehicles, based on its 2011 Annual Auto Study. Any vehicle that appeared on both lists then proceeded to the final scrutiny, the IIHS's Top Safety Picks for 2012. In order to make the list, a vehicle must receive a rating of “good” on all four of the IIHS's crash tests.