When choosing a new car, there are multiple facets to consider. However, one of the most important things to consider, if not the most important is the vehicle’s safety. Luckily for buyers in the market, dozens of 2016 models from compact cars to trucks and SUVs earned “Top Safety Pick” awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The criteria to get Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick awards are harder this year. According to IIHS, auto manufacturers met IIHS’ request for safer cars. To get a Top Safety Pick+ award, cars had to pass all five of IIHS’ evaluations and score an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention.
Two key facets that the vehicles had to have this year to earn one of these prestigious awards were strong small overlap crash protection and front crash prevention. Toyota and Honda led the pack with nine and eight Top Safety Pick+ awards, respectively. The Ford F-150 was the only pickup to get a Top Safety Pick award. Many vehicles that were on the list last year didn’t qualify this year because they were missing either a good rating on small overlap crash protection or on the front crash prevention. Winners this year cars had to have both with good ratings. Adrian Lund, President of IIHS, explained why the criteria is tougher this year by saying, “As vehicles continue to improve, however, we think it’s important to recognize that progress and encourage further advances by making our ratings more stringent. This year’s winners are certainly safer than the vehicles that earned our first Top Safety Pick awards 10 years ago.”
Overall, 48 vehicles earned Top Safety Pick+ awards and 13 vehicles earned Top Safety Pick awards for 2016. One feature that was a huge plus for IIHS was having an autobrake system. The Scion iA is the first affordable car that has one; otherwise autobrake systems are only standard on a few luxury vehicles. However, autobrake systems are going to soon be standard for most vehicles. Stay tuned for another feature coming soon on the advantage of making autobrake technology standard on all cars. Check out the graphics below to see which cars received 2016 awards.
Source: IIHS
