If a vehicle comes up short in multiple categories, he says, “consider other options within the same class that provide a higher level of crashworthiness and crash avoidance performance.” In the case of headlights, buyers may be able to choose a higher trim level or optional feature that has better performance. Young says that shoppers who are interested in a vehicle that doesn’t appear on the list should first check out where it underperforms. Manufacturers have been aware of the new side crash test since 2018, and models designed specifically with that test in mind are only now hitting the market.Ĭonsumer Reports uses IIHS ratings as part of the safety component for our Overall Score, which also factors in road-test performance, reliability, and owner satisfaction. “Car manufacturers respond to tougher tests by designing new vehicles that can pass those tests,” she says. More models will likely earn Top Safety Pick+ status as the IIHS continues to raise the bar for the award, says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s auto test center. “Depending on how it performs, it may still earn an award,” he says. Either one or both of these vehicles could end up on the list later this year. According to Young, some models-including the Chrysler Pacifica and Cadillac CT6-haven’t yet completed all the tests necessary for a 2023 award. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, and Mazda stand out for the most accolades from the IIHS, a safety-focused organization funded by the auto insurance industry.Īs the IIHS tests vehicles throughout the year, more cars have been added to the list. For example, the Ford Mustang Mach-E would otherwise qualify for a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ if not for Marginal-rated headlights that come on several less expensive trims. Now that standard good or acceptable headlights are required for both awards, quite a few vehicles that qualified for last year’s award have fallen off the list this year, in part because they are still offered with Poor- or Marginal-rated headlights on base trims. “While different vehicles missed out for different reasons, the new headlight requirement is an issue for quite a few models,” says Joe Young, a spokesperson for the IIHS. This requirement is meant to drive improvements to address this growing safety concern. Studies have shown that most AEB systems don’t work as well in the dark, even though the majority of pedestrian crash fatalities take place at night. In addition, the vehicles must have automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems that could prevent a collision with a pedestrian at nighttime, and they must come with good-performing headlights that illuminate the road ahead on curves and straightaways, regardless of vehicle trim levels. In order to earn the highest ranking of Top Safety Pick+, vehicles had to earn an Acceptable or Good score on a new side crash test that’s designed to replicate a higher-speed impact with a larger vehicle, such as a modern SUV or pickup.
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