2016 Top Safety Pick and Pick+ Vehicle List Revealed

Thursday, December 10, 2015
Scion ia
The Scion ia was given the highest honors as a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
ktrk-AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

The safest vehicles on the road have just been announced for 2016.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 48 vehicles have made it to their 2016 Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick list, all meeting the strictest IIHS standards to date.

Among those chosen are 33 cars and 15 SUVs, including Toyota vehicles which were named nine times to the Top Safety Pick+ list. Thirteen other vehicles were named to the lesser Top Safety Pick list.

This year, there are fewer domestic vehicles on the list.

How Vehicles are Scored

A vehicle can make the Top Safety Pick list by scoring a "Good" rating in the small overlap front test, the moderate overlap front crash, side crash, roof strength and head restraint tests.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ list, a vehicle must meet the above standards and also include a frontal collision autobraking system that scores as "Advanced" or "Superior."

2016 Top Safety Pick+ List

Minicar: Scion iA

Small cars: Acura ILX, Lexus CT 200h, Mazda3, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Impreza, Subaru WRX, Volkswagen Golf (four-door and SportWagen models), and Volkswagen GTI (4-door)

Midsize moderately priced cars: Chrysler 200, Honda Accord coupe, Honda Accord sedan, Mazda 6, Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, Volkswagen Jetta, and Volkswagen Passat

Midsize luxury/near-luxury cars: Audi A3, BMW 2 Series, Lexus ES, Volvo S60, and Volvo V60

Large family car: Toyota Avalon

Large luxury cars: Acura RLX, Audi A6 (built after January 2015), Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti Q70 (not V8 AWD models), Lexus RC, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Volvo S80

Small SUVs: Fiat 500X (built after July 2015), Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4

Midsize SUVs: Honda Pilot and Nissan Murano

Midsize luxury SUVs: Acura MDX, Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Lexus NX, Volvo XC60, and Volvo XC90

2016 Top Safety Pick List

Small cars: Chevrolet Sonic, Kia Soul, and Nissan Sentra (autobrake not tested)

Midsize moderately priced car: Chevrolet Malibu Limited (fleet model)

Small SUVs: Buick Encore and Nissan Rogue (autobrake not tested)

Midsize SUVs: Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, and Kia Sorento

Midsize luxury SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (autobrake not tested)

Minivans: Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona

Large pickup: Ford F-150 SuperCrew