2022 Top Safety Pick awards: Which cars are safest?

For the 2022 mannequin 12 months, extra automakers constructed their automobiles to higher face up to and keep away from crashes, in line with the most recent rankings introduced Thursday by the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security.

Greater than 70 fashions earned a 2022 High Security Choose+ designation, which is taken into account essentially the most rigorous impartial security ranking within the automotive trade.

Final 12 months at the moment, 49 fashions earned the accolade. One other 37 fashions in 2022 testing earned the subsequent highest ranking of High Security Choose, bringing the entire to 108 fashions out of about 223 examined.

Each 2022 Volvo and Genesis mannequin earned a TSP+, marking a uncommon sweep for the manufacturers, although it’s simpler to perform with lineups that include solely 5 key fashions.

Hyundai Motor Group, the mum or dad firm of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, earned essentially the most complete security picks, with 11 TSP+ and 10 TSP awards.

Solely seven home fashions out of 71 earned a 2022 TSP+, whereas two pickup vans, the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150, picked up TSP nods.

Very like the five-star NCAP security rankings overseen by the NHTSA, the TSP designations are supposed to streamline security assessments to provide automobile consumers a standardized baseline when assessing automobiles. The rankings additionally encourage automakers to make safer automobiles.

“Our awards make it simple for automobile consumers to search out fashions that can shield them in a crash and enhance the percentages they’ll by no means be in a single,” IIHS President David Harkey stated in a press release. “By capturing for High Security Choose+, automakers are displaying that they’re dedicated to the identical purpose.”

To earn a TSP+, automobiles should earn high “Good” rankings in all six crash assessments, together with the motive force’s aspect and passenger’s aspect assessments that simulate hitting a stationary object like a light-weight pole head-on.

Aspect impression, general entrance impression, head restraints, and rollover assessments spherical out that portion of testing.

IIHS High Security Choose testing

“Our assessments are designed across the forms of crashes occurring in the true world that will not be mirrored by the federal government’s crash assessments,” Joe Younger, director of media relations for the IIHS, defined in an interview. “The unique IIHS aspect crash check was designed because of issues that the federal government’s aspect crash check was not capturing all of the aspect crashes that happen in the true world.

An enormous a part of that was the altering car fleet, with taller automobiles gaining popularity. IIHS’s barrier was designed to copy an SUV or pickup putting a car, fairly than a shorter automobile.”

The IIHS is a nonprofit company funded by the insurance coverage trade, which has a enterprise case for minimizing the incidence and depth of automobile crashes.

There are different distinctions in rankings between the 2 crash-test companies. Not like the NHTSA security assessments, the IIHS charges the efficacy of automated emergency braking methods and headlight visibility.

“The necessity for headlight testing emerged because of present rules permitting too broad a variety of headlight efficiency,” Younger stated.

Automakers initially had a harder time assembly the headlight standards launched in 2016, however compliance has elevated even because the requirements have turn into extra rigorous.

To qualify for a TSP+, automobiles should have commonplace headlights that fee at “Acceptable” or “Good” in IIHS testing.

IIHS High Security Choose testing

Moreover, a TSP+ automobile should earn both “Superior” or “Superior” rankings in considerably slowing down or avoiding crashes with automobiles and pedestrians in 12-mph and 25-mph assessments.

An efficient automated emergency braking system minimizes impacts from rear-end collisions, the commonest crash, and extra subtle methods gradual or cease automobiles from hitting objects peripherally, akin to a toddler darting from between parked automobiles right into a road or a automobile dashing by a perpendicular intersection.

The IIHS predicts the usual know-how will forestall 42,000 crashes and lower in half the variety of rear-end crashes by 2025.

The main automakers made a voluntary dedication to equip not less than 95% of recent automobiles offered with AEB as commonplace by September of this 12 months. To keep away from penalizing automakers earlier than the deadline, the IIHS doesn’t mandate AEB as commonplace gear to earn a TSP+.

That’s altering subsequent 12 months, nonetheless. The IIHS will add a nighttime pedestrian crash prevention element to the AEB ranking, and “Superior” or “Superior” rankings will likely be required for a TSP+ designation. Pedestrian crash fatalities have elevated 51% since 2009, in line with the IIHS.

Moreover, headlight rankings should be not less than “Acceptable” throughout the board to earn any TSP award.

IIHS High Security Choose testing

The IIHS regularly resets the protection bar as extra automakers meet or exceed the necessities for TSP awards. In 2021, it up to date the aspect crash check for the primary time in almost 20 years. Simulating a T-bone crash, the check is carried out at greater speeds and with a heavier barrier to mirror bigger SUVs and vans proliferating on roadways previously twenty years. Starting in 2023, a “Good” ranking on the brand new check will likely be required to earn a TSP+.

Count on some TSP rising pains within the identify of ever-evolving security requirements.

“We count on to see a drop within the variety of automobiles incomes our awards in 2023,” Younger stated.

But it surely ought to make automobiles safer general.

“Automakers have constantly responded after we introduce new assessments and strengthen our award standards,” Younger stated. “We count on to see them proceed to enhance crashworthiness, entrance crash prevention methods and headlight choices as they try to earn our security awards below the harder standards in 2023.”

IIHS High Security Choose testing

The complete listing of 2022 winners is beneath, and will likely be up to date all year long:

TSP+

Small automobiles and SUVs

Chevrolet Trailblazer
Ford Bronco Sport
Honda Civic sedan and hatchback
Honda Perception
Hyundai Tucson
Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-50
Mitsubishi Outlander (constructed after June 2021)
Nissan Rogue
Toyota Corolla sedan and hatchback
Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota RAV4 Prime
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volvo C40 Recharge
Volvo XC40 and XC40 Recharge

Vehicles

Honda Accord
Kia K5
Kia Stinger
Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback

Luxurious automobiles

Acura TLX
Audi A6 and A6 Allroad
Audi A7
Genesis G70
Genesis G80
Genesis G90
Lexus ES 350
Lexus IS
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Tesla Mannequin 3
Volvo S60 and S60 Recharge
Volvo S90 and S90 Recharge
Volvo V60 Cross Nation
Volvo V90 Cross Nation

SUVs

Ford Explorer
Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai Santa Fe (constructed after July 2021)
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Murano
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander
Volkswagen ID.4

Luxurious SUVs

Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Audi E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback
Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback
Cadillac XT6
Genesis GV70
Genesis GV80
Hyundai Nexo
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Tesla Mannequin Y
Volvo XC60 and XC60 Recharge
Volvo XC90 and XC90 Recharge

Minivans

Chrysler Pacifica
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna

TSP

Small automobiles and SUVs

Buick Encore GX
Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Venue
Kia Seltos
Kia Soul
Kia Sportage
Lexus UX
Lincoln Corsair
Nissan Sentra
Subaru Crosstrek (with CVT)
Subaru Impreza (with CVT)
Toyota C-HR
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Venza

Vehicles

Hyundai Sonata
Toyota Avalon

Luxurious automobiles

Audi A4
Audi A5 Sportback
BMW 2-Collection Gran Coupe
BMW 3-Collection

SUVs/Minivans

Ford Edge
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Kia Carnival
Kia Sorento
Kia Telluride

Luxurious SUVs

Audi Q8
BMW X5
Lexus RX
Lincoln Aviator
Lincoln Nautilus
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Vehicles

Ford F-150 prolonged and crew cabs
Ram 1500 crew cab