New Car Safety Ratings

Over the years, automotive safety has evolved and become more complex, with new technologies and materials playing a crucial role in protecting passengers. Safety organizations worldwide conduct tests to assess and rate the safety performance of vehicles. The criteria for these ratings often include:

1. Frontal Crash Tests: Measures how well the front of a vehicle protects occupants in a head-on crash.
2. Side Crash Tests: Evaluates the protection for occupants in side-impact collisions.
3. Rollover Resistance Test: Assesses a vehicle’s risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
4. Pedestrian Protection: Determines how well a vehicle protects a pedestrian when struck.
5. Advanced Safety Features: Evaluates technologies like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, blind-spot detection, and more.
6. Child Occupant Protection: Examines how well a car protects children in car seats.

Organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) regularly update their criteria and release ratings for vehicles.

Highly-Rated Vehicles by Body Style

Reminder: Safety rankings and ratings can fluctuate yearly due to the introduction of new vehicle models and advancements in technology. For the most updated information, always refer to the official websites of reputable safety institutions.

Each year there are nearly 400 distinct models for sale in the united states, only around 10% of these vehicles earn the prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation from IIHS, characterized by:

1. Positive “Good” evaluations in both driver and passenger side small overlap front tests, as well as the initial moderate overlap front test.
2. “Good” score in the revised side test.
3. Headlights that are graded as “Acceptable” or “Good” as a standard feature.
4. Either “Advanced” or “Superior” ratings for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention.
5. Either “Advanced” or “Superior” ratings for nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention.

The vehicles mentioned below have earned the prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation:

Summary of New Car Safety Ratings

It’s evident that Asian automakers stand out as leaders in safety, consistently securing top spots in the Top Safety Pick+ designation. In contrast, domestic automakers noticeably trail behind, with only a few models achieving the top safety accolades. European automakers, while surpassing their domestic automaker counterparts, still find themselves positioned between the commendable performance of Asian manufacturers and the lagging domestic ones. This data underscores the dedication of Asian manufacturers to vehicle safety, while also highlighting areas of potential improvement for both European and domestic brands.

Origin	Top Safety Pick+ Models
Asian	30
European	11
Domestic	4

Manufacturer	Top Safety Pick+ Models
Toyota & Lexus	9
Hyundai, Genesis, & Kia	8
Honda & Acura	6
Audi	5
Subaru	3
BMW	2
Nissan & Infiniti	2
Jeep	2
Mazda	2
Volvo	2
Mercedes-Benz	1
Rivian	1
Tesla	1
Volkswagen	1

Wrapping It Up

It’s crucial to keep in mind that new models are released, and ratings can change yearly. When considering purchasing a new vehicle, always refer to the latest data from safety testing organizations.

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