The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested a number of compact cars in the organization’s new small front overlap crash test. Of those tested, half of them earned a “good” or “acceptable” rating and qualified for the IIHS’ new Top Safety Pick+ recognition.

Vehicles tested that received the new Top Safety Pick+ recognition included the Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, and the 2- and 4-door versions of the Honda Civic (and the Scion tC, though there are no CY-2012 fleet registrations for this vehicle, according to R.L. Polk data). All models tested were 2013 model-year vehicles save for the tC, according to IIHS.

IIHS said a total of 25 models have earned the organization’s new Top Safety Pick+ honor. Of the vehicles tested, the Ford Focus is the most common model from that group used by commercial fleets, at 10,873 CY-2012 registrations, according to R.L. Polk data.

Ford noted in a statement acknowledging IIHS' evaluation of the 2013-MY Focus that it used ultra-high-strength steel in the vehicle’s structure, and that the 2013 and 2014 Ford Focus sedan and hatchback, and the 2013 Focus Electric, each received a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Chrysler noted in a statement about the IIHS recognition that its Dodge Dart’s structure is 68 percent high-strength steel and that the vehicle has more than 10 standard airbags.

IIHS rates vehicles in front crash, small overlap front crash, side impact, and rollover crashes, and evaluates seat and head restraints for how much protection they provide against neck injuries in rear-impact collisions.

The video below shows the IIHS' overview of the latest round of tests.

8/8/2013, 3:09 pm, updated with information from Ford and Chrysler.