The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released the results of its 2016 Top Safety Pick+ awards, for vehicles that earned good ratings in all five IIHS crashworthiness evaluations and an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention. A total of 61 models managed to make it to this year’s rankings, with 13 qualifying for the Top Safety Pick award.
The non-profit, US-based organisation established a few compulsory requirements in order to qualify for either award. This includes good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a standard or optional front crash prevention system.
To obtain the “plus” award, the 48 winners had a superior- or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. These vehicles must be capable of stopping or slowing down without driver intervention before hitting a target in tests at 19 km/h, 40 km/h or both.
As for the 13 models that receive the Top Safety Pick award, they only had basic-rated front crash prevention system, which typically only issues a warning and doesn’t brake automatically. “We asked auto manufacturers to do more this year to qualify for our safety awards, and they delivered,” says Adrian Lund, IIHS president.
The winners are divided in various categories. It is important to note that not all models on IIHS’ list are available here in Malaysia. Even if they were, their safety features may not be reflective of what is offered in the US either.
In the “small cars” category, the Lexus CT 200h, Mazda 3 (sedan and hatchback), Subaru WRX, Volkswagen Golf and its GTI variant all managed to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award. Meanwhile, the Honda Accord, Mazda 6, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat and Toyota Camry took home awards in the “midsize moderately priced cars category.”
Moving on to the “midsize luxury/near luxury cars” category, the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series, Lexus ES and Volvo S60 qualified for the “plus” award as well. Awards for the “large luxury cars” category went to the Audi A6, Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti Q70, Lexus RC and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
As for the SUVs, the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Forester walked away with awards in the “small SUVs” category, the Nissan Murano in the “midsize SUVs” category, while the Audi Q5, Lexus NX, Volvo XC60 and Volvo XC90 scored well in the “midsize luxury SUVs” category.
Recipients of the IIHS Top Safety Pick award meanwhile, include the Kia Sorento (midsize SUVs), Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (midsize luxury SUV), Chevrolet Sonic (small cars) and Honda Odyssey (minivans).
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.


Toyota Vios, VW Polo, Honda City – they are either not on sale in USA or not good enough to be in the list.
but Chevrolet Sonic is.
Therefore Myvi, Axia, Vios and Saga are rubbish.
This award list is only for cars sold in USA.
Pity kimchi, even my son saga has better safety.
But, for the largest car manufacturer -Toyota ,
not many of them got TSP / TSP+
only Camry,Prius,Avalon, & new RAV4
Toyota new slogan, Keep moving forward,don’t mind the lives.Seriously, RV more important.
JDM brand, Honda(Acura) & Subaru dominates.
But still Corolla is 2nd best selling car behind Camry with total sales until November is 330,887 units, leaving the Accord and Civic in 3rd and 5th place.
How does the American opt before buying?
City/Fit – Rating acceptable
Vios/Yaris – Rating Marginal
Almera/Versa – Rating Poor
Small car, go for Honda. The best of them all.
For the Vios it definitely falls short on the safety ratings as shown by the ASEAN CAP results.
In 2015 the Honda Jazz/Fit was one of the Top Safety Picks but falls short this year due to lack of front crash prevention systems.
A simple check will show you that the 3 cars you mentioned, Vios, City and Polo are not sold in the USA so its obvious there will be no results for them.
Under ASEAN CAP results City/Jazz > Polo > Vios in terms of results so Vios is basically the worst in safety among these 3 cars.
Under ANCAP results Jazz > City > Polo and if Vios is present its obviously gonna be worse then the rest.
Volvo is still king of safety!
Correction, Volvo was the safety king.
Now that they have Geely DNA, philosophy of the good old tank car 240 is pure history
Toyota Camry top the list… says a lot about the cronyism in the name of UMW.
Subaru always there every year
Surprising to see none japanese/korean c segment made it to the top safety under midesize moderately priced cars category. Only d segment japanese cars took honours excluding koreans. All this time i thought koreans are as strong as european cars but this is really eye opening.
Buta ke? Mazda and lexus not japanese?
Mazda 3 dan lexus ialah c-segment tapi menang dlm kategori compact small sedan. Tetapi jetta c-segment jugak tetapi menang di midsize kategori. Yg aneh mazda 3 dgn jetta memang c-segment tetapi menang di kategori berlainan masing masing. Lagipun komen saya adalah ketiadaan japanese/korean kereta c-segment seperti civic, altis, dlm kategori midsize affordable cars, bukan tiada kereta c-segment asia secara keseluruhan
Well folks, log on below for full winner list.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List
In Australia ANCAP the Hyundai Tucson only got 4-star, not 5
Thats a HUGE fail, pie in the face moment
They claim they are updating it and will test again
Kimchi manufacturers cheat all the way, very much like their German friends
I thought the Nissan Teana (aka Altima) scored full marks in the latest ASEAN NCAP test? It didn’t make the IIHS list?? Strange…
If not mistaken, Nissan Maxima is us version of teana. It is in top safety+ pick list under midsize affordable sedan category
US Teana is Altima.
VW also listed? must be wrong .. VW is a liar company ..so the result must be wrong!
they must cheated the result to iihs.
VW must be sued!!
Since when VW cheated on safety?
Nobody know yet.
some one need to investigate further on VW.