— This list is current as of May 7, 2014 —
Crash test performance is important to consumers, providing a way for them to compare the safety performance of various models. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts crash tests for many of the vehicles you might consider and assigns these models with a rating.
Top Safety Pick+ Ratings
The highest ratings offered are Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+, the latter qualifier added in 2013. To achieve its now top rating a vehicle must meet two criteria:
1. Meet the top safety pick vehicle requirements, including earning “good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap front test.”
2. Earn a “basic, advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.”
Vehicles that meet the advanced both criteria are assigned a Top Safety Pick+ rating.
As of April 2014, very few models have achieved the IIHS’ top rating. By category, the following vehicles qualify with some exceptions noted.
Minicars
No winners.
Top Safety Pick+ — 2014 Toyota Prius (select models).
Small cars
2014 Honda Civic 4-door — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Mazda 3 — applies only to optional front crash prevention models and to vehicles built after October 2013; hatchback and sedan body styles included.
2014 Toyota Prius — applies only to optional front crash prevention models. Applies only to vehicles built after November 2013.
Midsize Moderately Priced Cars
2014 Chevrolet Malibu — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Ford Fusion — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Honda Accord 2-door — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Honda Accord 4-door — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Mazda 6 — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Subaru Legacy — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Subaru Outback — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
Top Safety Pick+ — 2014 Ford Fusion (select models).
Midsize Luxury/Near Luxury Cars
2015 Audi A3 — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Infiniti Q50 — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Lincoln MKZ — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Volvo S60 — all models.
Large Luxury Cars
2014 Acura RLX — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2015 Hyundai Genesis — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Volvo S80 — all models.
Small SUVs
2014 Mazda CX-5 — applies only to optional front crash prevention models. Applies only to vehicles built after October 2013.
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Nissan Rogue — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Subaru Forester — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
Top Safety Pick+ — 2014 Subaru Forester (select models).
Midsize SUVs
2014 Chevrolet Equinox — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 GMC Terrain — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Toyota Highlander — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
Midsize Luxury SUVs
2014 Acura MDX — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
2014 Mercedes M Class — applies only to vehicles built after August 2013.
2014 Volvo XC60 — all models.
Top Safety Pick+ — 2014 Toyota Highlander (select models).
Minivans
2014 Honda Odyssey — applies only to optional front crash prevention models.
Safety Rating Considerations
Achieving a Top Safety Pick+ rating should result in lower auto insurance costs for consumers. The time to check what your rate will be should be done before you make your purchase. Insurance rates can vary by hundreds of dollars annually between like models.
You should also know that the ratings are assigned with the vehicle category in mind. That simply means larger and heavier vehicles provide better protection than smaller and lighter models across the board.
Please note that as of April 2014 Auto Trends now includes IIHS safety ratings with the vehicle specifications for every new car review posted to this site.
See Also — IIHS Outlines 5 Components for Safer Teen Driving
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