This article has been updated from a previous version.
Automakers are increasingly building safer vehicles that can withstand crashes and protect drivers and passengers. Case in point: The Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is awarding 101 vehicles in 2022 with either its coveted Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick designation. In 2021, the IIHS awarded only 90 vehicles with one of these two titles.
This year, 65 vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick+ award (compared to 49 in 2021), and another 36 vehicles the Top Safety Pick award. The difference between the two is the “plus” — a designation given to models with good or acceptable headlights across all trim levels and packages.
All the vehicles selected require good ratings in each of the six crashworthiness tests the IIHS performs. The vehicles must also have or can be equipped with headlights that meet the institute’s standards and a front-crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating in vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian situations.
For consumers, not only does driving a vehicle equipped with driver-assist technologies and additional safety features provide peace of mind, but it could also result in a lower car insurance premium if the insurance provider rates that vehicle less of a claims risk due to its safety features.
“Our awards make it easy for car buyers to find models that will protect them in a crash and increase the odds they’ll never be in one,” said IIHS President David Harkey in a release. “By shooting for TOP SAFETY PICK+, automakers are showing that they’re committed to the same goal.”
Improving headlights can make a big difference
According to the IIHS, it takes a driver 1.5 seconds to react to an obstacle under ideal conditions at highway speeds. During this time, a vehicle will continue to travel for 120 feet (or about 37 metres). When driving at night, therefore, a vehicle’s headlights should light the way beyond this distance to minimize the risk of a collision.
When equipped with the necessary front-crash prevention systems (which may not be a standard feature on every model), the following vehicles are this year’s Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick award winners, according to the IIHS.
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners: Cars
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners: SUVs
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners: Minivans
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: Cars
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: SUVs
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: Minivans
- IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: Pickups
IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners: Cars
| Small cars | Midsize cars | Midsize luxury cars | Large cars | Large luxury cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Honda Civic four-door hatchback | 2022 Honda Accord four-door sedan | 2022 Acura TLX four-door sedan | 2022 Kia Stinger four-door hatchback | 2022 Audi A6 four-door sedan |
| 2022 Honda Civic four-door sedan | 2022 Kia K5 four-door sedan | 2022 Lexus ES 350 four-door sedan | 2022 Audi A6 allroad four-door wagon | |
| 2022 Honda Insight four-door sedan | 2022 Nissan Altima four-door sedan | 2022 Lexus IS four-door sedan | 2022 Audi A7 four-door hatchback | |
| 2022 Mazda3 four-door hatchback | 2022 Nissan Maxima four-door sedan | 2022 Tesla Model 3 four-door sedan | 2022 Genesis G70 four-door sedan | |
| 2022 Mazda3 four-door sedan | 2022 Subaru Legacy four-door sedan | 2022 Volvo S60 four-door sedan | 2022 Genesis G80 four-door sedan | |
| 2022 Subaru BRZ two-door hatchback | 2022 Subaru Outback four-door wagon | 2022 Volvo S60 Recharge four-door sedan | 2022 Genesis G90 four-door sedan | |
| 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid four-door wagon | 2022 Toyota Camry four-door sedan | 2022 Volvo V60 Cross Country four-door wagon | 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class four-door sedan | |
| 2022 Toyota Corolla four-door hatchback* | 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge four-door wagon | 2022 Volvo S90 four-door sedan | ||
| 2022 Toyota Corolla four-door sedan* | 2022 Volvo S90 Recharge four-door sedan | |||
| 2022 Toyota GR86 two-door hatchback | 2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country four-door wagon | |||
| 2022 Volkswagen Golf R four-door hatchback |
*Applies only to vehicles built after November 2021.
IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners: SUVs
| Small SUVs | Midsize SUVs | Midsize luxury SUVs | Large SUVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer four-door SUV | 2022 Ford Explorer four-door SUV | 2022 Acura MDX four-door SUV | 2022 Audi e-tron four-door SUV |
| 2022 Ford Bronco Sport four-door SUV | 2022 Hyundai Palisade four-door SUV | 2022 Acura RDX four-door SUV | 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback four-door SUV |
| 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 four-door SUV* | 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe four-door SUV*** | 2022 Audi Q5 four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson four-door SUV | 2022 Mazda CX-9 four-door SUV | 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Mazda CX-30 four-door SUV | 2022 Nissan Murano four-door SUV | 2022 Cadilac XT6 four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Mazda CX-5 four-door SUV | 2022 Subaru Ascent four-door SUV | 2022 Genesis GV70 four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander four-door SUV** | 2022 Toyota Highlander four-door SUV | 2022 Genesis GV80 four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Nissan Rogue four-door SUV | 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 four-door SUV | 2022 Hyundai Nexo four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Subaru Forester four-door SUV | 2022 Lexus NX four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross four-door SUV | 2022 Lexus NX Plug-in Hybrid four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime four-door SUV | 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge four-door SUV | 2022 Tesla Model Y four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Volvo XC40 four-door SUV | 2022 Volvo XC60 four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge four-door SUV | 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Volvo XC90 four-door SUV | |||
| 2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge four-door SUV |
*Applies only to vehicles built after December 2021.
**Applies only to vehicles built after June 2021.
***Applies only to vehicles built after July 2021.
IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+ winners: Minivans
| Minivans |
|---|
| 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Minivan |
| 2022 Honda Odyssey Minivan |
| 2022 Toyota Sienna Minivan |
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IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: Cars
| Small cars | Midsize cars | Midsize luxury cars | Large cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Hyundai Elantra four-door sedan | 2022 Hyundai Sonata four-door sedan | 2022 Audi A4 four-door sedan | 2022 Toyota Avalon four-door sedan |
| 2022 Kia Soul four-door wagon | 2022 Audi A4 allroad four-door wagon | 2022 Volkswagen Arteon four-door hatchback | |
| 2022 Nissan Sentra four-door sedan | 2022 Audi A5 Sportback four-door hatchback | ||
| 2022 Subaru Crosstrek four-door wagon | 2022 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe four-door sedan | ||
| 2022 Subaru Impreza four-door wagon | 2022 BMW 3 Series four-door sedan | ||
| 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI four-door hatchback |
IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: SUVs
| Small SUVs | Midsize SUVs | Midsize luxury SUVs | Large SUVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Buick Encore GX four-door SUV | 2022 Ford Edge four-door SUV | 2022 BMW X5 four-door SUV | 2022 Audi Q8 four-door SUV |
| 2022 Ford Escape four-door SUV | 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E four-door SUV | 2022 Lexus RX four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Honda CR-V four-door SUV | 2022 Kia Sorento four-door SUV | 2022 Lincoln Aviator four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Hyundai Venue four-door SUV | 2022 Kia Telluride four-door SUV | 2022 Lincoln Nautilus four-door SUV | |
| 2022 Jeep Compass four-door SUV | 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC four-door SUV | ||
| 2022 Kia Seltos four-door SUV | |||
| 2022 Kia Sportage four-door SUV | |||
| 2022 Lexus UX four-door SUV | |||
| 2022 Lincoln Corsair four-door SUV | |||
| 2022 Toyota C-HR four-door SUV | |||
| 2022 Toyota Rav4 four-door SUV | |||
| Toyota Venza four-door SUV |
IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: Minivans
| Minivans |
|---|
| 2022 Kia Carnival Minivan* |
*Applies only to vehicles built after March 2021.
IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick winners: Pickups
| Small pickups | Large pickups |
|---|---|
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Crew cab pickup | 2022 Ford F-150 Crew cab pickup |
| 2022 Ford F-150 Extended cab pickup | |
| 2022 Ram 1500 Crew cab pickup |
Protect your wallet and shop your rate
While driving a safer vehicle has the potential to earn you a lower premium, you shouldn’t bank on that alone as a strategy to pay less for car insurance. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle this year, compare auto insurance quotes online at RATESDOTCA to secure the best rate.
