The IIHS takes into account front, side, rollover and rear crash protection ratings; vehicles must receive top marks in all four. In addition, the vehicles must have electronic stability control, which is a standard feature on both the Genesis and the E-Class.

Amazingly, this is the first year that the E-Class Mercedes has won a Top Safety Pick award. According to the IIHS website, the redesigned large luxury car was helped along by changes in the padding in the front and rear doors, which improved the car's performance in side impact crashes.

The Genesis -- Hyundai's acclaimed foray into the luxury segment, offering near-Mercedes or Lexus luxury at a fraction of the price -- was introduced in 2009. For the 2010 model year, improvements were made on the vehicle's roof structure, which helped it fare better in rollover crashes.