American insurance association lists the safest new cars on the road

The US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested the most recent and upcoming automobile models, determining that 38 of them have satisfied safety standards. Those vehicles appeared on the IIHS’s list of Top Safety Pick+ for 2017.

The American association noted that 10 fewer cars received the designation this year after it had raised its standards for headlight performance. Notably, out of the 38 that made the IIHS’s list, only seven were outfitted with headlights that earned a “good” rating.

In addition to headlight performance, the IIHS also took note of vehicles that employed safety technology (such as automatic braking) that help drivers avoid crashes.

“The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well, but it’s not as small as we expected when we decided to raise the bar for the awards,” IIHS president Adrian Lund said in a written statement. “Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment, and we’re confident that the winners’ list will grow as the year progresses.”

The full list of IIHS’s 2017 Top Safety Pick+ vehicles goes:

Small cars

• Chevrolet Volt
• Hyundai Elantra (sedan only; built after March 2016)
• Mazda 3 (4-door sedan, 4-door hatchback
• Toyota Corolla
• Toyota Prius (built after August 2016)

 
Mid-size cars

• Honda Accord four-door
• Mazda6
• Nissan Altima
• Nissan Maxima
• Subaru Legacy
• Subaru Outback
• Toyota Camry
• Toyota Prius V
• Volkswagen Jetta

 
Mid-size luxury cars

• Audi A4
• Lexus ES 350
• Volvo S60
• Volvo V60

 
Large luxury cars

• Genesis G80
• Genesis G90
• Lexus RC

 
Small SUVs

• Mazda CX-3
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Nissan Rogue
• Subaru Forester (built after October 2016)
• Toyota RAV4

 
Mid-size SUVs

• Honda Pilot
• Hyundai Santa Fe (built after March 2016)

 
Mid-size luxury SUVs

• Acura MDX
• Acura RDX
• Audi Q5
• Buick Envision
• Lexus NX
• Lexus RX
• Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
• Volvo XC60

 
Minivan

• Chrysler Pacifica (built after August 2016)

 
Large pickup

• Honda Ridgeline

 
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