December 29, 2015
Agency
The top 48 safest cars
48 safest vehicles for 2016
Tougher criteria for IIHS’s 2016 Top Safety Pick+ award
Dec 29, 2015 | By Jayleen R. Heft, PropertyCasualty360.com
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.
Related
Here are the safest vehicles on the road, 2015 edition
71 vehicles earn Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards from IIHS.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mazda 3 4-door sedan | Mazda 3 4-door hatchback
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.