Only 15 vehicles received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top safety award after stricter requirements were put in place for 2018.
The organization has just released two annual lists: Top Safety Pick Plus and Top Safety Pick.
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These are the safest vehicles for 2018
To qualify for Top Safety Pick Plus — the highest honor — vehicles must now have good headlight ratings and good or acceptable passenger-side protection in small overlap front crashes.
The Top Safety Pick Plus winners include 12 cars and 3 SUVs, but no minivans or pickups earned the highest award.
In addition, another 47 vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick — the second-tier honor — which now requires acceptable or good headlights.
Here’s the criteria for each award, followed by a list of the winners:
Top Safety Pick+ criteria
- Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests
- Acceptable or Good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test
- Advanced or Superior rating for front crash prevention
- Good headlight rating
Top Safety Pick+ winners — 15 vehicles
Small cars
- Kia Forte sedan
- Kia Soul
- Subaru Impreza
4-door sedan | 4-door wagon - Subaru WRX
Midsize cars
Large luxury cars
Midsize SUVs
Midsize luxury SUV
Top Safety Pick criteria
- Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests
- Advanced or Superior rating for front crash prevention
- Acceptable or Good headlight rating
Top Safety Pick winners — 47 vehicles
Small cars
- Chevrolet Volt
- Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
- Hyundai Elantra
- Hyundai Elantra GT
- Mazda 3
4-door sedan | 4-door hatchback - Subaru Crosstrek
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Prius
- Toyota Prius Prime
Midsize cars
Midsize luxury cars
Large cars
Small SUVs
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Sportage
- Mazda CX-3
- Mazda CX-5
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Nissan Rogue
- Subaru Forester
- Toyota RAV4
Midsize SUVs
Midsize luxury SUVs
Minivans
Large pickup
More details
One important note: The “vast majority” of winners qualify only when optionally equipped because front crash prevention and acceptable or good headlights aren’t part of their base trims, IIHS said.
The organization releases ratings as it evaluates new models, so check IIHS.org to see an updated list of winners.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been recognizing vehicles with the Top Safety Pick designation since the 2006 model year and added Top Safety Pick Plus in the 2013 model year.
IIHS said it has repeatedly strengthened criteria for both awards to push automakers to speed up safety advances.
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