We are seeing more vehicles honored for their safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says it’s giving 63 vehicles its top honors this year, compared to 48 at the same time last year. This comes as the Institute has made the standards even tougher.
“It’s a really good news story for us, that the automakers are paying attention to what we’re trying to achieve,” says IIHS President David Harkey.
Forty five of the vehicles get the Top Safety Pick Plus designation, while 18 others received the slightly lesser Top Safety Pick Plus.
“There are a variety of vehicles on this list that should meet your needs,” says Harkey. “There are sedans, SUV’s and some pickups. There’s a range of vehicle sizes.”
Only two pickups made the cut. Harkey says one important category is notable for its absence.
“Minivans’ is probably the most disappointing of vehicle classes on our list. Especially when it comes to providing that extra protection in the rear seat.”
Top Safety Pick Plus Winners
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Rear seat safety, headlight issues and problems with automatic braking were the issues that kept many vehicles from being honored.
The institute is now requiring better ratings for back seat protection and standard automatic safety equipment for vehicles to win the top safety honors.
Top Safety Picks
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Funded by the insurance industry, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does frequent testing to pressure carmakers into improving vehicle safety. As that safety improves, the institute often updates the tests to make them harder to pass, forcing carmakers to make even more safety improvements.
Harkey says a safe vehicle doesn’t have to be an expensive one.
“There are actually more than a dozen vehicles on our ‘Top Safety Pick Plus” list that start at under thirty thousand dollars.”
