Solidifying its place atop the luxury market, the Volvo C30, S60, S80, XC60 and XC90 were all named 2012 Top Safety Pick winners by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Unsurpassed by any luxury brand with five Top Safety Pick awards, Volvo outdistanced Audi, Acura, Infiniti, BMW and Lexus.

"Safety has been a hallmark of Volvo since we were founded in 1927," said John Maloney, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America in a press release. "Our employees around the world take great pride in making, selling and servicing our cars. Still, it's very humbling to be recognized in such a manner."

The awards are based on safety evaluations conducted by IIHS in the areas of front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. These four categories are the most common types of crashes that occur.

All five Volvo models earned ratings of "Good" across the board in front offset, side impact, roof strength and rear crash protection. In addition, all five models are previous Top Safety Pick winners and offer electronic stability control as a standard feature.

The Volvo C30 was awarded the Top Safety Pick honor in the midsize moderately priced cars division while the S60 was honored among midsize luxury/near luxury cars. The S80 earned distinction in the large luxury cars category while the XC60 and XC90 were top picks in the midsize luxury SUV list.

Backed by a history of unmatched safety innovations, Volvo continues to set the industry standard for protecting passengers in the event of a crash. It's this overall commitment to safety that puts Volvo in a class all by itself.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, safety, elegance, practicality and efficiency can all come together in a ride that gets your pulse racing every time you take the wheel. The name of that ride? The new 2012 Volvo C30 ? the hot hatchback aimed at buyers who demand the kind of premium-class qualities and uncompromising value only Volvo can deliver in this segment.

While the new 2012 C30 takes inspiration from the classic Volvo P1800 ES of the 1970s, Volvo designers created a thoroughly modern shape that gives a respectful nod to past glory without trying to relive it. Following a bold refresh of the car's front and rear ends just last year, reviewers at Edmunds.com dubbed the C30 "the closest thing in this segment to automotive art." This year, the C30 goes from strength to strength, offering more technology, fresh features and a new trim level strategy.

Volvo offers the four-seat C30 in two versions: The T5 (MSRP $24,700) and the sporty T5 R-Design.

Putting the power down in the C30 is a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder making 227 hp and 236 lb/ft of torque. Thanks in part to dual overhead cams and Continuously Variable Valve Timing, response from the inline-five is strong throughout the rev range without a hint of turbo lag.

Power flows to the front wheels via a standard six-speed manual transmission. You can also choose the available five-speed Geartronic automatic with manual mode. Acceleration is brisk, with runs from zero-to-60 mph passing in just 6.4 seconds (with the manual transmission) while fuel economy reaches the upper tier in this segment. You can expect an EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway from the C30 when equipped with the automatic.

Credit a fully independent suspension with MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link setup out back for the reputation the C30 has gained as a road magnet. As with all Volvos, tenacious grip lives hand-in-glove with a supple ride. In fact, the reviewers at Edmunds.com went on to stay that "the C30 has a smoother ride and a quieter cabin" than the MINI Cooper S.

For even greater agility at speed, choose the track-worthy C30 T5 R-Design. Model-exclusive suspension upgrades include stiffer springs and bushings, mono-tube dampers, a quicker steering ratio and 18-inch Midir aluminum-alloy wheels (the T5 features 17-inch Spartacus alloys).

Volvo likes to call the C30 the car that "protects you from boredom." Your freedom to enjoy the ride no matter the driving conditions comes courtesy of Volvo safety technology. Antilock brakes, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control and available Active Dual Xenon Headlights are all on hand to give you peace of mind as the miles pass. If an accident can't be avoided, count on a full complement of active and passive restraints including a Whiplash Protection System, Side Impact Airbags for the driver and front passenger and Inflatable Curtains that protect the heads of all four occupants during a side collision.

The C30 T5 also delivers a slate of standard features the competition can't match. Cruise control, a leather steering wheel with audio controls and a leather shiftknob with aluminum inlay are all included, as are Bluetooth^® connectivity with audio streaming and a 16-watt audio system with an in-dash CD player, an auxiliary port and eight speakers.

Along with its unique Sport Chassis, the T5 R-Design gets exclusive upgrades such as leather seating surfaces with embossed R-Design logos, brushed-aluminum sport pedals, blue-face instruments, polished exhaust pipes, a color-keyed roof spoiler and a Sport Body Kit.

Amping up the enjoyment of your C30 is easy ? simply choose one of two available trim levels. The Premier Plus trim level includes a power glass moonroof, power for the driver and front passenger seats and LED daytime running lights.

The top-tier Platinum trim level contains all the items from Premier Plus and adds SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with a free six-month trial subscription), a navigation system with a 6.5-inch liquid crystal display, Real-Time Traffic and Map Care and a premium, 650-watt Dolby^® Pro Logic^® II Surround-Sound system and 12 speakers.

In snowy climates, there's no better cure for cabin fever than a brisk drive in a C30 equipped with the available Climate Package, which includes headlight washers, heated front seats and electronic climate controls. Further personalization is available via a host of stand-alone options ? Keyless Drive, leather upholstery for the T5 and a Blind Spot Information System among them.

Following a test drive, the editors at Motor Trend magazine dubbed the C30 "the wild child of the Volvo family" and "the sharpest tool" in the carmaker's arsenal. When you're ready for a ride on the wild side, schedule a test drive of the new 2012 Volvo C30 line of hot hatchbacks.