Buying a new vehicle means making a lot of decisions. However one of the most important factors you must consider when purchasing a new car is safety. That’s where the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) can help. The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses – deaths, injuries and property damage – from crashes on the nation’s roads. The IIHS tests evaluate two aspects of safety:
– Crashworthiness: how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash
– Crash Avoidance and Mitigation: technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity
To determine crashworthiness, IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor, based on performance in five tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.
In the area of crash avoidance and mitigation, IIHS assigns vehicles with available front crash prevention systems ratings of basic, advanced or superior, based on the type of system and performance in track tests.
To qualify for the 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, a vehicle must earn 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. In addition the vehicle must also earn a basic, advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
Below is the list of current IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ Winners for 2014.
| 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 Applies only to vehicles built after Oct. 2013 |
| 2014 Toyota Prius Applies only to optional front crash prevention models Applies only to vehicles built after Nov. 2013 |
| MIDSIZE MODERATELY PRICED CARS |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| LARGE LUXURY CARS |
| 2014 Acura RLX Applies only to optional front crash prevention models |
| 2014 Volvo S80 |
| SMALL SUVs |
| 2014 Mazda CX-5 Applies only to optional front crash prevention models Applies only to vehicles built after Oct. 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 |
| MIDSIZE SUVs |
| 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 Aug. 2013 |
| 2014 Volvo XC60 |
| MINIVANS |
| 2014 Honda Odyssey Applies only to optional front crash prevention models |
Please note:
Models that earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK are the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories. Size and weight influence occupant protection in serious crashes. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that’s a TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK doesn’t necessarily afford more protection than a bigger car that doesn’t earn the award.
Learn more about vehicle safety at: www.iihs.org. Or compare crash test safety ratings using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 5-Star Safety Ratings Program at www.safercar.gov.
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