Crashing Upwards: Seven vehicles from BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Toyota earn top 2023 safety awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – With increased safety awareness in crash testing, more stringent testing means that earning IIHS awards is now more difficult. However, BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota have all passed crash tests for the 2023 model year.
Of the seven vehicles tested by the four automakers, the top Top Safety Pick+ award went to the 2023 BMW X3; to 2024 Mazda CX-90 and CX-90 PHEV (plug-in hybrid); And to the 2023 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime.
The next award, the Top Safety Pick award, went to the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander and the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts four crash tests using a dummy with a realistic neck and spine. These tests include moderate-overlap frontal, driver-side, passenger-side, and side-impact tests. In 2022, the moderate frontal overlap test was updated with the addition of a dummy mounted behind the driver to assess the rear passenger’s injury.
More tests are being conducted on crash prevention systems such as those that identify braking for pedestrians, headlight indicators, seat belt reminders, and child seat anchors.
To qualify for Top Pick in 2023, a vehicle must earn a top rating of “Good” in the small overlap category and a rating of “Good” or “Acceptable” in the side test category.
Furthermore, headlights rated “Good” or “Acceptable” must be standard on all models, and the forward collision prevention system must receive an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating in the daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prevention system rating.
To be assessed a Outstanding Pick+ rating, a vehicle must earn only “Good” in the updated sideline test, and “Advanced” or “Superior” vehicle-to-pedestrian ratings in both daytime and nighttime tests.
IIHS tests vehicles it purchases from dealers and is not reimbursed unless the automaker requests testing outside of IIHS’s normal testing requirements.
In a previous report, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) documented that less than half of the vehicles that earned the top award in 2022 repeated it in 2023. This delay is primarily due to changes in regulations for 2022, and with updated safety regulations Always, it is also necessary not to duplicate.
While getting “Good” or “Acceptable” on the new side test is enough to earn a Top Safety Pick award for 2023, only “Good” will qualify in 2024. Additionally, for a Top Safety Pick+ award in 2023 2024, the car will have to meet the following conditions: Score ‘Good’ or ‘Acceptable’ in the new moderate front overlap – which adds a dummy for the back seat – and expect that to move to ‘Good’ – just in the future as well.
