As more and more drivers hit the road (Reuters reports that drivers in the US drove 3.23 TRILLION miles in 2021), it’s more important than ever to consider safety when choosing a new vehicle. But how can you determine if a car is safe? Who tests them? How do they test them? And what are the safest cars in 2023?
Luckily, for over 50 years the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted rigorous and comprehensive safety evaluations on vehicles of all shapes and sizes. The nonprofit IIHS plays a crucial role in assessing and recognizing the safest vehicles on the market and helping consumers make decisions about the safety features they’re looking for in a new vehicle. So read a little about the IIHS, and then browse the Top Safety Picks for 2023.
How IIHS Determines Its Top Safety Picks
Crash Avoidance and Mitigation:
IIHS also examines crash avoidance and mitigation systems. This includes assessing technologies like automatic emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive headlights, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot detection. Vehicles equipped with these systems that perform well are recognized for their proactive safety measures.
Headlight Performance:
Headlight evaluations are critical for the IIHS rating. They test various lighting scenarios, including high beams and low beams, to determine how well a vehicle illuminates the road. Vehicles with good headlight performance in different conditions receive higher safety ratings.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH):
The ease of use and effectiveness of child seat anchors, known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), are also considered. Vehicles are assessed on the simplicity and accessibility of these anchor points for securing child car seats.
Based on these evaluations, the IIHS awards vehicles with two primary distinctions: Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+. To receive the Top Safety Pick designation, a vehicle must perform well in crash tests and offer standard front crash prevention with available acceptable or good headlights. The Top Safety Pick+ is the highest honor and is awarded to vehicles that meet the same criteria as the Top Safety Pick but with superior headlights.
Understanding safety ratings allows consumers to prioritize safety features that align with their preferences, ensuring a safer driving experience. These safety features are also at the heart of the repairs that we do at Eustis Body Shop. From using OEM parts to properly installing and refitting ADAS features, to constantly learning about new technologies, Eustis Body Shop is focused on your safety. To learn more about what we do or to get a quote get in touch!
IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award Winners
Small Car
Acura Integra
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius Prime
Midsized Cars
Honda Accord
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry (built after January 2023)
Midsized Luxury Cars
Genesis G80, G80 Electrified
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (with optional front crash prevention)
Large Luxury Car
Genesis G90
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Subaru Solterra (built after October 2022)
Small Luxury SUVs
Acura RDX
BMW X1
Genesis GV60
Genesis GV70, GV70 Electrified
Lexus NX and NX Plug-in Hybrid
Lexus RZ
Lexus UX
Midsized SUVs
Genesis GV80
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Palisade
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Kia Telluride
Mazda CX-90, CX-90 PHEV
Nissan Pathfinder
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Volkswagen ID.4
Midsized Luxury SUVs
Acura MDX
Audi Q7 (built after January 2023)
Audi Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback
Infiniti QX60
Lexus RX
Tesla Model Y
Volvo XC90 and XC90 Recharge
Large SUVs
Audi Q8, Q8 E-Tron, and Q8 Sportback
Rivian R1S
Minivans
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Large Pickups
Rivian R1T
Toyota Tundra crew cab and extended cab
Read more about the picks HERE