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Roundup: All the 2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winners
The IIHS has revealed its list of what it considers to be the safest new cars available—those that qualify for its coveted Top Safety Pick+ award.
For 2017, making the cut has become even more difficult since cars now need to meet the insurance-funded independent agency's headlight effectiveness test in addition to delivering strong crash test performance and offering a highly-rated automatic emergency braking system.
DON'T MISS: How to be sure your new car really is a Top Safety Pick+
Now, cars need to earn at least the agency's "good" or "acceptable" ratings for their headlights and either "advanced" or "superior" for their available automatic emergency braking, plus "good" ratings in the following crash tests:
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front
Side impact
Roof strength
Head restraint
If a vehicle receives all those marks, it's considered a Top Safety Pick+. It can be awarded the standard Top Safety Pick title if its headlights don't pass muster or if it doesn't offer a strong-performing automatic emergency braking. One caveat to this award is that, to be considered a Top Safety Pick+, the individual model must both be equipped with often optional automatic emergency braking and with the highest-performing headlights available.
MORE: Pickups come under fire for poor headlights
For instance, the Honda Accord is considered a Top Safety Pick+ only if it is equipped with the automaker's optional Honda Sensing safety suite (which includes automatic emergency braking) and if it has the standard halogen headlamps that earn an "acceptable" score on the IIHS' test. An Accord with either the LED lights or not optioned up with Honda Sensing is not considered a Top Safety Pick+.
The lesson here? Just because a car appears on the list below doesn't automatically mean it comes standard with all of the available safety features needed to earn the top award.
Look for this list to continue to grow as the IIHS tests more 2017 models and keep in mind that the IIHS doesn't test every car on the market.
2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award Winners
Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Audi A3
Audi A4
Audi Q5
BMW 2-Series
BMW 3-Series
BMW 5-Series
Buick Envision
Chevrolet Volt
Chrysler Pacifica (built after August 2016)
Genesis G80
Genesis G90
Honda Accord Sedan
Honda CR-V
Honda Pilot
Honda Ridgeline
Hyundai Elantra Sedan (built after March 2016)
Hyundai Santa Fe (built after March 2016)
Lexus NX
Lexus RX
Lexus ES
Mazda 3
Mazda 6
Mazda CX-3
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester (built after October 2016)
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Prius (built after August 2016)
Toyota Prius v
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Jetta
Volvo S60
Volvo V60
Volvo XC60
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And here's a look at models that earned the standard Top Safety Pick award, the standard is lower for the cars' headlamps and their collision avoidance tech—but the IIHS points out that their basic safety structures are still top notch. All told, any car to be awarded either the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award is among the safest on the market. Here at The Car Connection, we factor both awards into our ratings system. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick Award Winners
Acura ILX
Acura RLX
Audi A3
Audi A6
Audi Q7
BMW 2-Series
BMW X1
Cadillac XT5
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200
Fiat 500X
Ford Fusion
GMC Acadia
Honda Accord Coupe
Honda Civic
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Tucson
Infiniti Q70 (except V-8 all-wheel drive)
Kia Sedona
Kia Sorento
Kia Sportage
Kia Optima
Lincoln MKX
Lincoln MKZ
Lexus CT 200h
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan
Mini Cooper
Nissan Murano
Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Sentra
Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru WRX
Toyota Avalon
Toyota Yaris iA
Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo S90
Volvo XC90
