(WTNH) — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released their list of 2017 Top Safety Picks, with 38 models winning the organization’s highest accolade, Top Safety Pick Plus.
According to the IIHS, the group toughened their criteria to receive the Top Safety Pick Plus distinction for 2017. The tougher criteria is based on new headlight evaluations launched earlier in 2016.
The program is designed to encourage manufacturers to offer the best possible protection for people in crashes, and to offer features that help drivers avoid crashes in the first place.
Adrian Lund, President of the IIHS, said that the Top Safety Pick Plus contenders field was smaller this year due to the tougher criteria.
The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well, but it’s not as small as we expected when we decided to raise the bar for the awards. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment, and we’re confident that the winners’ list will grow as the year progresses.”
Here are the 2017 IIHS Top Safety Picks Plus Recipients
(Source: IIHS.org)
Small Cars
Chevorlet Volt
Hyundai Elantra
Mazda 3 (both the 4-door sedan and 4-door hatchback)
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius (built after August 2016)
Midsize Cars
Honda Accord 4-door
Mazda 6
Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius V
Volkswagen Jetta
Midsize Luxury Cars
Audi A4
Lexus ES 350
Volvo S60
Volvo V60
Large Luxury Cars
Genesis G80
Genesis G90
Lexus RC
Small SUVs
Mazda CX-3
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester (built after October 2016)
Toyota RAV-4
Midsize SUVs
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe (built after March 2016)
Midsize Luxury SUVs
Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Audi Q5
Buick Envision
Lexus NX
Lexus RX
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Volvo XC60
Minivan
Chrysler Pacifica (built after August 2016)
Large Pickup
Honda Ridgeline
Here are the 2017 IIHS Top Safety Picks Recipients
(Source: IIHS.org)
Minicars
Mini Cooper Hardtop 2-door
Toytoa Yaris iA
Small Cars
Acura ILX
Honda Civic 2-door
Honda Civic 4-door
Lexus CT 200h
Nissan Sentra
Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru WRX
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
Volkswagen Golf GTI 4-door
Midsize Cars
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord 2-door
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Volkswagen Passat
Midsize Luxury Cars
Audi A3
BMW 2 Series
Lincoln MKZ
Merecedes-Benz C-Class 4-door
Large Car
Toyota Avalon
Large Luxury Cars
Acura RLX
Audi A6
Infiniti Q70 (except V8 4-wheel drive models)
Volvo S90
Small SUVs
BMW X1
Fiat 500X
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Midsize SUVs
GMC Acadia
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Kia Sorento
Nissan Murano
Nissan Pathfinder
Midsize Luxury SUVs
Cadillac XT5
Infiniti QX60
Lincoln MKX
Volvo XC90
Large SUV
Audi Q7
Minivan
Kia Sedona
More details of this year’s accolades are available on the IIHS website.
