ARLINGTON, Va. — Toyota and Honda racked up a number of top safety pick awards in the latest rounds of tests by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety which were announced Thursday.
IIHS made the criteria tougher for the awards in 2023, strengthening the requirements for better side crash protection and improved pedestrian crash prevention systems as well as eliminating subpar headlights from the field of qualifying vehicles. As a result of the tougher criteria, only 48 models qualify for the 2023 awards. Of those, 28 earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ and 20 earn TOP SAFETY PICK.
To find out how specific cars and SUVs performed, go here.
Toyota Motor Corp., which includes the Toyota and Lexus brands, has the most 2023 awards overall and the most awards in each category — nine TOP SAFETY PICK+ and six TOP SAFETY PICK awards for a total of 15.
Honda Motor Co., which includes the Acura and Honda brands, is next with six TOP SAFETY PICK+ and two TOP SAFETY PICK awards.
Mazda earned six TOP SAFETY PICK awards.
The biggest change to the criteria for both awards is the replacement of the original IIHS side crash test with the updated evaluation launched in 2021. The new side crash test involves 82 percent more energy than the original test. Vehicles must earn an acceptable or good rating to qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, while a good rating is required for the "plus."
The tests for TOP SAFETY PICK+ include a new evaluation, the nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test. IIHS made headlight requirements more stringent. "Previously, a vehicle could qualify by offering at least one trim level with available acceptable or good headlights, while winners of the "plus" award needed to have them standard across all trims. For 2023, both awards require standard acceptable or good headlights," IIHS officials said in a statement.
As before, to earn either award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front and original moderate overlap front tests. The roof strength, head restraint and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluations are no longer part of the award criteria.
Doug Stewart is the Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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