After a significant change in its methodology, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently announced that its first round of testing for the 2014 model year saw 22 vehicles earn Top Safety Pick+ status with another 17 receiving the traditional Top Safety Pick designation—only it’s not so traditional anymore.
In prior years, the Institute required vehicles to pass three tests to be named to the Top Safety Pick list: evaluations for occupant protection in moderate front-overlap and side-crash scenarios, as well as for rollover protection. Then, last year, a small front-overlap test was added, with vehicles that scored well enough in that challenge qualifying for the new “+” recognition. Now, effective with this first batch of entries from the 2014 model year, the IIHS is mandating that vehicles pass all four tests to earn the Top Safety Pick distinction, while the Top Safety Pick+ honor is presented only to vehicles that also offer a forward collision-mitigation system and achieve passing scores for head-restraint performance.
The difference shows up in the fact that only 39 vehicles received any kind of IIHS award in the most-recent testing, while the first evaluations for the 2013 model year produced 130 honorees. Consumers also need to be aware that, for most of the 2014 Top Safety Pick+ vehicles, enjoying that higher safety award means paying extra for optional technologies.
Getting down to the nitty-gritty here, it was Honda (including Acura) that led all manufacturers in terms of Top Safety Pick+ winners, with six, and that was twice as many as the three makers that tied for second place (Mazda, Subaru and Volvo).
The current roster of 2014 Top Safety Pick+ vehicles:
- Acura MDX
- Acura RLX
- Ford Fusion
- Honda Accord Coupe
- Honda Accord Sedan
- Honda Civic Sedan (hybrid only)
- Honda Odyssey
- Infiniti Q50
- Lincoln MKZ
- Mazda CX-5
- Mazda Mazda3
- Mazda Mazda6
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Subaru Forester
- Subaru Legacy
- Subaru Outback
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota Prius
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S80
- Volvo XC60
As for the initial batch of vehicles that “only” qualified for the regular Top Safety Pick honor, they’re on the next page.
