Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the midsize models its highest safety rating.

Updated SUV provides better second-row passenger protection.

Mazda hybrid wins the highest honor while a redesigned BMW gets the second-highest.

None did well on back-seat protection, and their bulk makes some crashes hard to manage.

IIHS, Consumer Reports suggest used and new models with top safety ratings and less room for error, dangerous driving.

Two other models in the automaker’s line fare less well in IIHS crash tests.

IIHS increases requirements for its top awards in challenge to automakers to increase backseat, pedestrian safety.

Training, technology and processes will help windshield, collision and after-market repair centers approach crash-avoidance systems properly.

Follows calls by national safety groups to curb aggressive driving.

IIHS says the new crop largely fit properly, stress importance of boosters to prevent child traffic deaths, which are on the rise.