Small cars are safer than ever

Small cars are commonly associated with high fuel economy, but it turns out that they are also pretty safe these days, as well. It may seem like their size limits the vehicles' safety capabilities, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has already named six small cars from the 2012 model year as Top Safety Picks.

"The list of cars with the best fuel economy now includes those with the highest crash-test ratings in their class," IIHS chief research officer David Zuby told CBS MoneyWatch.

Most recently, the agency announced that the Chevy Sonic received top ratings in their crash tests. The news source reports that the Sonic outshone its predecessor, the Aveo. The older model was only given "marginal" ratings for side-impact and roof-strength tests and an "acceptable" grade for front impacts.

The Sonic received "good" ratings in every category, which is the highest rating given by the IIHS. In the roof-strength test, which requires vehicles to be able to withstand four times their own weight, the Sonic was found to support up to 5.37 times its weight.

Drivers who are not quite ready to purchase a new car can ensure the safety of their current vehicle with a car warranty.