Dec. 31, 2015—Forty-eight vehicles met the 2016 criteria for a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The vehicles that took home the award earned good ratings in all five crashworthiness evaluations and an advanced or higher rating for front crash preventions.
Thirteen additional vehicles took home a Top Safety Pick award.
IIHS introduced the Top Safety Pick in the 2006 model year to help consumers identify vehicles with the best safety performance. The Top Safety Pick+ was introduced in 2012 to identify vehicles that offer an advanced level of safety.
2016 had tougher criteria to earn a Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick than years past.
"We asked auto manufacturers to do more this year to qualify for our safety awards, and they delivered," says Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "For the first time, a good rating in the challenging small overlap front crash test is a requirement to win, in addition to an available front crash prevention system. How that system rates determines whether a vehicle will earn Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick."
The requirements for both awards, Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick, are good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as standard or optional front crash prevention system. The winners of the Top Safety Pick+ have a superior or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. Models with an available basic-rated front crash prevention system qualify for top safety pick.
For a full list of winners, click here.
