( CNN ) -- Small cars on the U.S. market are gaining traction with consumers , but some new models have more work to do to catch the Honda Civic , designated by a respected safety group as an industry leader . The 2013 two- and four-door Civics turned in a `` good '' performance -- the highest score -- in a new type of tough front crash test earlier this year to earn the highest accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety . Four other cars , including the Dodge Dart from Chrysler and the Ford Focus , more recently posted acceptable ratings in the same IIHS test . But that was good enough for them to earn top overall status as well from the organization , even though the Civic did better . But three models , including the Chevy Cruze produced by General Motors , and the Volkswagen Beetle , posted marginal results and fell short of the loftiest rating for comprehensive safety , which also factors in results from other IIHS front , side , rollover and rear crash tests . The Nissan Sentra and two other vehicles made by Kia fared poorly in the test . A premium on fuel efficiency . With half of the 12 tested models qualifying for IIHS best performance -- called Top Safety Pick Plus -- consumers have more vetted choices when weighing safety , the group said . Automakers trying to meet government and consumer demands for better fuel efficiency have in recent years jump-started production of small cars . Buyers have responded positively , especially to U.S. manufacturers , which for years relied on sales of gas-guzzling SUVs and pickups . Car companies designed models to perform better in the latest frontal and other tough crash tests , but some still need to address concerns . `` Manufacturers need to focus on the whole package , '' said David Zuby , the Insurance Institute 's chief research officer . `` That means a strong occupant compartment that resists the kinds of intrusion we see in a frontal crash like this , safety belts that prevent a driver from pitching too far forward and side curtain airbags to cushion a head at risk of hitting the dashboard or window frame . '' The latest institute test measured vehicle strength and occupant protection when only a quarter of a car 's front end hits a tree , a pole , or another vehicle at 40 mph . The collision occurs outside the structural areas of the vehicle designed to manage crash energy . This increases the risk of severe damage to the car and possible injury to the driver and passengers , the insurance group said . The test is also important for testing seat belts and air bags and measuring how well vehicle designs prevent injuries to feet and lower legs , according to the IIHS . Tesla aces its first crash test . Automakers respond to test results . The redesigned two- and four-door Honda Civic posted `` good '' or top marks in the so-called overlap front crash test . That equaled the performance of some larger cars , which makes the result more impressive for Honda . The Dart , Focus , Hyundai Elantra -- all new this year -- and the Toyota Scion tC2014 all posted acceptable ratings . The 2013 Cruze , Beetle and Chevy Sonic scored marginally , while the Sentra , the Kia Soul and Forte 2014 turned in poor marks . `` The small cars with marginal or poor ratings had some of the same structural and restraint system issues as other models we 've tested , '' Zuby said . `` In the worst cases , safety cages collapsed , driver airbags moved sideways with unstable steering columns and the ( test ) dummy 's head hit the instrument panel . Side curtain airbags did n't deploy or did n't provide enough forward coverage to make a difference . All of this adds up to marginal or poor protection in a small overlap crash . '' Automakers take special note of the IIHS trials because the group is backed by the insurance industry . The federal government conducts separate crash tests and posts its own safety ratings . It does not perform the overlap test , however . IIHS said the models with marginal or poor scores in the latest test are regular recipients of the group 's second-highest rating for overall safety -- Top Safety Pick . Kia said in a statement that it would `` carefully evaluate '' the IIHS testing but notes that all of its cars sold in the United States meet or exceed federal safety standards . `` Maximizing occupant protection is complex and involves a diverse range of variables , and Kia is proud of its strong safety record and the integrity of its products , '' the statement said , noting that the IIHS test `` goes well beyond '' government requirements . Nissan also said that it would review the results of latest testing `` as we seek opportunities for improvement . '' Volkswagen said in a statement that it is `` passionately committed to building the safest vehicles available to the public and has already begun to incorporate this latest knowledge into the design and engineering of our cars going forward . '' GM also noted variables unique to each vehicle that are required to perform well in safety tests . `` We are aggressively working to incorporate these into our models -- including our small cars like the Chevrolet Sonic and Cruze -- where technically feasible , '' GM said in a statement . IIHS plans to run the overlap test on minicars next . CNN 's Jasmin Hines contributed to this report .
Honda Civic posts highest score in new front-crash test by insurance group . Ford Focus , Dodge Dart marginal in test , but match Civic for overall safety . Chevy Cruze , Volkswagen Beetle lag , but still considered safe vehicles . Automakers turning out small cars to meet consumer , government demands for fuel efficiency .