The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released its highly anticipated list of Top Safety Picks for 2023.
The IIHS’s yearly test recognizes the vehicles that perform best in crash tests, pedestrian protection, and other safety features. As consumers increasingly prioritize safety when choosing a vehicle, the IIHS ratings are a crucial tool for automakers to showcase their commitment to protecting drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
This year the IIHS has introduced updates to its 2023 Top Safety Picks awards. These updates reflect the latest technological advancements in vehicle safety, ensuring that you stay safe behind the wheel.
Perhaps the most significant addition to this year’s criteria is the new side impact crash test. Originally launched in 2021, it sets the standard for Top Safety Pick qualification. This year the test features a larger barrier moving at a higher speed, simulating a collision with a large SUV or pickup truck, and evaluates how a vehicle can withstand the impact. Only vehicles that receive an acceptable or good rating qualify for the Top Safety Pick award. For the Plus designation, a good rating is mandatory.
Recognizing the limitations of pedestrian detection systems in low-light situations, the IIHS also updated its criteria for nighttime pedestrian crash prevention. Vehicles must obtain an advanced or superior daytime rating to qualify for the Top Safety Pick award. While the Top Safety Pick Plus award requires an advanced or superior rating in both daytime and nighttime pedestrian evaluations.
Last but not least, IIHS has revised the criteria for a vehicle’s headlight rating. To qualify for either award, a vehicle must now have acceptable or good headlights as standard across all trims. This change is a departure from previous years when the Top Safety Pick designation only required one trim level to have acceptable or good headlights available.
These updates speak to the IIHS’s commitment to promoting vehicle safety and encouraging automakers to integrate the most advanced safety features into their products. So, rev up your engines and stay safe out there!
IIHS Top Safety Picks and Pick+
Small cars
Acura Integra (PICK+)
Honda Civic hatchback (excludes Type R performance variant)
Honda Civic sedan
Mazda 3 hatchback
Mazda 3 sedan
Toyota Corolla hatchback
Toyota Corolla sedan
Midsize cars
Subaru Outback (PICK+)
Toyota Camry (produced after January 2023) (PICK+)
Hyundai Sonata (produced after December 2022)
Subaru Legacy
Midsize luxury car
Lexus ES 350
Large luxury car
Genesis G90 (PICK+)
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V (PICK+)
Honda HR-V (PICK+)
Lexus UX (PICK+)
Subaru Solterra (produced after October 2022) (PICK+)
Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-50
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Toyota RAV4 Prime
Toyota Venza
Midsize SUVs
Hyundai Palisade (PICK+)
Kia Telluride (PICK+)
Nissan Pathfinder (PICK+)
Subaru Ascent (PICK+)
Toyota Highlander (PICK+)
Volkswagen ID.4 (PICK+)
Ford Explorer
Mazda CX-9
Midsize luxury SUVs
Acura MDX (PICK+)
Acura RDX (PICK+)
Infiniti QX60 (PICK+)
Lexus NX (PICK+)
Lexus NX Plug-in Hybrid (PICK+)
Lexus RX (PICK+)
Tesla Model Y (PICK+)
Volvo XC90 (PICK+)
Volvo XC90 Recharge (PICK+)
Lincoln Nautilus
Minivans
Honda Odyssey (PICK+)
Toyota Sienna (PICK+)
Large pickups
Rivian R1T crew cab (PICK+)
Toyota Tundra crew cab (PICK+)
Toyota Tundra extended cab (PICK+)