The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is renowned within the car industry as being sticklers for safety. Last year, the IIHS upped the criteria for TOP SAFETY PICKs by adding a roof-strength assessment to test the protection of a rollover crash. Cars awarded the designation of TOP SAFETY PICK from the IIHS wear a badge of honor.

Two 2011 Buick autos now wear that badge within the large car category: the Buick Lacrosse and the Buick Regal. In order to earn such a distinction, the vehicles had to pass evaluations not only in roof strength, but in the following…