Looking to buy a new vehicle? Be sure to take a look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) annual safety award winners. 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.
The 48 winners of the "plus" award have a superior- or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. These vehicles must stop or slow down without driver intervention before hitting a target in tests at 12 mph, 25 mph, or both. Among the Top Safety Pick+ winners, there are 31 models with an available superior-rated front crash prevention system and 17 models with an advanced rating.
"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."
Best safety performance
IIHS inaugurated the Top Safety Pick in the 2006 model year to help consumers more easily evaluate and select vehicles with the best safety performance. The Top Safety Pick+ award was introduced in 2012 to recognize vehicles that offer an advanced level of safety.
In the award count, Toyota leads manufacturers with nine 2016 Top Safety Pick+ winners, including the popular Camry midsize car, while Honda picks up eight Top Safety Pick+ awards. Volkswagen/Audi has seven plus-award winners. Six Subaru models qualify for Top Safety Pick+.
Here are the winners of the 2016 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, grouped by small SUVs; midsize SUVs; midsize luxury SUVs; minicar; small cars; midsize moderately priced cars; midsize luxury/near-luxury cars; large family cars; and large luxury cars:
Action shot taken during the 2016 Fiat 500X small overlap frontal crash test. (Photo: IIHS)
Small SUVs
Fiat 500X (built after July 2015)
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control,
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and second row head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights (optional).
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Seat cushion airbag: A separate airbag in the forward portion of the front passenger seat cushion to prevent occupants from sliding under the seat belts.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
The 2016 Honda Pilot small overlap frontal crash test. (Photo: IIHS)
Midsize SUVs
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Head curtain airbags for all three rows of seats and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well during the crash test. (Photo: IIHS)
Midsize luxury SUVs
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Head curtain airbags for all three rows of seats and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags (standard); rear seat-mounted torso airbags (optional).
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control to minimize the possibility of rollover.
- Antilock brakes.
- Programmable daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Seat cushion airbag: A separate airbag in the forward portion of the front passenger seat cushion to prevent occupants from sliding under the seat belts.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Built-in child restraints (optional).
- Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior.
- Side airbags: Head curtain airbags for all three rows of seats and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Built in child restraints (optional).
- Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
View of the Scion iA and barrier just after the side impact crash test. (Photo: IIHS)
Minicar
Front crash prevention: Advanced.
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
During the crash, the dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but then nearly slid off the left side. The seat belt allowed the dummy to move too far forward, as is evident from the gap between the seat back and the dummy's torso. (Photo: IIHS)
Small cars
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2016 models).
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Volkswagen Golf (4-door hatchback and SportWagen models)
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (2015 and later SportWagen models and beginning with 2016 model Golf and GTI 4-door hatchbacks built after June 2015).
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Volkswagen GTI (4-door models)
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2016 models built after June 2015).
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
The small overlap frontal crash test of the 2016 model Mazda 6. (Photo: IIHS)
Midsize moderately priced cars
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Programmable daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2016 models).
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Seat cushion airbags: Separate airbags in the forward portion of the driver and passenger seat cushions to prevent occupants from sliding under the seat belts.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Seat cushion airbags: Separate airbags in the forward portion of the driver and passenger seat cushions to prevent occupants from sliding under the seat belts.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2015 models).
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights (beginning with 2014 models).
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2016 models).
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
The 2016 Lexus ES 350 small overlap frontal crash test. (Photo: IIHS)
Midsize luxury/near luxury cars
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags (standard); rear seat-mounted torso airbags (optional).
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Programmable daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2016 models).
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover (beginning with 2013 models).
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low. (Photo: IIHS)
Large family car
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
The IIHS small overlap frontal crash test for the 2016 Audi A6. (Photo: IIHS)
Large luxury cars
Front crash prevention: Superior.
Safety features:
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Audi A6 (built after Jan. 2015)
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags (standard); rear seat-mounted torso airbags (optional).
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights .
Infiniti Q70 (does not apply to V8 4WD models)
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
Front crash prevention: Advanced (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Driver and front passenger knee airbags: Separate airbags in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags (standard); rear seat-mounted torso airbags (optional).
- Rollover sensor: Designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover.
- Driver knee airbag: A separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes.
- Automatically adjusting head restraints in front seats move up or down as seats are adjusted forward or rearward.
- Electronic stability control.
- Antilock brakes.
- Programmable daytime running lights.
Front crash prevention: Superior (with optional equipment).
- Side airbags: Front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags.
- Electronic stability control.
- Built-in child restraints (optional).
- Antilock brakes.
- Daytime running lights.
Related: 3 ways cars are getting safer
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