Five of the safest cars on the road
Crash-test dummies are so last year. Both the U.S. government and private auto-safety raters made evident this week how tougher standards are moving beyond crash tests that just measure passenger protection. Now, they’re evaluating systems that can avoid accidents altogether.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a private organization funded by the insurance industry, has released its list of two thousand sixteen models that get its two top ratings: Top Safety Pick Plus and Top Safety Pick. To get the best rating, a vehicle must not only score well in crash tests but also include well-rated accident-avoidance technology, such as automatic braking.
Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — part of the U.S. Department of Transportation — announced earlier this week that it’s revising its 5-Star rating system to include automatic braking and other accident-avoidance features. DOT said it hopes the switches will prompt quicker adoption of the fresh technologies, ideally eventually becoming as widespread as airbags and electronic stability control have in past decades.
Demonstrating how rapid adoption of automatic braking is spreading, the IIHS list of two thousand sixteen cars includes forty eight models that earn a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. To build up one of the top two ratings, a vehicle must get a top score of “Good” in crash tests that cover front and side influence and rollover accidents, and also have accident-prevention technology. If those automatic braking systems pass the IIHS tests, the vehicle then gets a Top Safety Pick Plus rating.
On the two thousand sixteen IIHS list, Toyota (TM) leads all manufacturers with nine Top Safety Pick Plus ratings. Honda (HMC) has eight, Volkswagen (VLKAY) and its Audi subsidiary seven and Subaru six. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle from a Detroit-based brand to get a Top Safety Pick Plus award. Among the thirteen Top Safety Pick choices, General Motors (GM) has five and Ford (F) has one, the F-150 SuperCrew pickup.
Tougher standards this year — both for accident-avoidance technology and an especially difficult crash test — eliminated more than twenty vehicles that won the Top Safety Pick for their two thousand fifteen models.
On the other forearm, IIHS singled out five vehicles that improved their ratings because they added automatic braking for 2016.
Click ahead for a closer look at those five models, and to see a total list of 2016’s top-rated vehicles.
​2016 Toyota Avalon
The Avalon, a Top Safety Pick last year, moves up a notch to Top Safety Pick Plus, given its addition of automatic braking for collision avoidance in the two thousand sixteen model. And that automatic braking technology got the top “Superior” rating in IIHS tests.
In day-to-day driving, reviewers surveyed by U.S. News praised the power and swift acceleration of Avalon’s V-6 engine. They also liked its slick rail and relatively nimble treating for a large family car. The Avalon’s gas mileage is rated by the EPA for twenty one MPG in city driving and thirty one on the highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera, separate climate controls for driver and passenger, and an infotainment system with voice recognition.
​2016 Toyota RAV4
Like the Avalon, the RAV4 has stepped up to a plus rating by adding automatic braking that got a Superior rating for front crash protection. Having only recently gone on sale, this two thousand sixteen petite SUV has not yet been widely reviewed.
The redesigned RAV4 features a Two.5-liter, four-cylinder engine rated for twenty three MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway. In the all-wheel drive version, those ratings drop to twenty two city, twenty nine highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera and a USB connection for music and mobile phone.
​2016 Nissan Maxima
The two thousand sixteen Maxima improved its spectacle in the difficult small-overlap crash test. And it added automatic braking-ranked Superior in IIHS tests to finish off its elevation to Top Safety Pick Plus.
When I test-drove the fresh Maxima, I liked its quick acceleration, thanks to the 300-horsepower, Three.5-liter V-6 engine that’s standard on all versions of the Maxima. Even at highway speeds, hitting the gas pedal gives a swift, satisfying response. The Maxima is rated for twenty two MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway.
​2016 Volkswagen Passat
The updated two thousand sixteen Passat sedan improved its crash test ratings and added automatic braking. That system is rated “Advanced” — the second-best classification but still good enough for a Top Safety Pick Plus. Test drivers praised the Passat for its convenient rail, yam-sized trunk and lots of passenger room.
The 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine is rated for twenty five MPG in city driving and thirty eight on the highway. The optional V-6 engine is rated twenty city, twenty eight highway. No diesel option is presently suggested due to VW’s regulatory tangle involving diesel engine emissions.
​Chrysler 200
The two thousand sixteen Chrysler two hundred improved its automatic braking to get a Superior grade and a Top Safety Pick Plus rating — the only model from a Detroit-based brand to get that rating. Test drivers like the midsize sedan’s precise steering and relatively nimble treating.
The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty three MPG in city driving and thirty six on the highway. Some reviewers feel this engine is underpowered and choose the optional V-6, rated for nineteen city, thirty two highway.
List of two thousand sixteen IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles
Below is a list of the forty eight models that earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. Toyota (TM) leads the list with nine top ratings. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle on the list made in the United States.
Volkswagen Golf ( 4-door hatchback and SportWagen models)
Five of the safest cars on the road – CBS News
Five of the safest cars on the road
Crash-test dummies are so last year. Both the U.S. government and private auto-safety raters made evident this week how tougher standards are moving beyond crash tests that just measure passenger protection. Now, they’re evaluating systems that can avoid accidents altogether.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a private organization funded by the insurance industry, has released its list of two thousand sixteen models that get its two top ratings: Top Safety Pick Plus and Top Safety Pick. To get the best rating, a vehicle must not only score well in crash tests but also include well-rated accident-avoidance technology, such as automatic braking.
Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — part of the U.S. Department of Transportation — announced earlier this week that it’s revising its 5-Star rating system to include automatic braking and other accident-avoidance features. DOT said it hopes the switches will prompt quicker adoption of the fresh technologies, ideally eventually becoming as widespread as airbags and electronic stability control have in past decades.
Demonstrating how rapid adoption of automatic braking is spreading, the IIHS list of two thousand sixteen cars includes forty eight models that earn a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. To build up one of the top two ratings, a vehicle must get a top score of “Good” in crash tests that cover front and side influence and rollover accidents, and also have accident-prevention technology. If those automatic braking systems pass the IIHS tests, the vehicle then gets a Top Safety Pick Plus rating.
On the two thousand sixteen IIHS list, Toyota (TM) leads all manufacturers with nine Top Safety Pick Plus ratings. Honda (HMC) has eight, Volkswagen (VLKAY) and its Audi subsidiary seven and Subaru six. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle from a Detroit-based brand to get a Top Safety Pick Plus award. Among the thirteen Top Safety Pick choices, General Motors (GM) has five and Ford (F) has one, the F-150 SuperCrew pickup.
Tougher standards this year — both for accident-avoidance technology and an especially difficult crash test — eliminated more than twenty vehicles that won the Top Safety Pick for their two thousand fifteen models.
On the other arm, IIHS singled out five vehicles that improved their ratings because they added automatic braking for 2016.
Click ahead for a closer look at those five models, and to see a utter list of 2016’s top-rated vehicles.
​2016 Toyota Avalon
The Avalon, a Top Safety Pick last year, moves up a notch to Top Safety Pick Plus, given its addition of automatic braking for collision avoidance in the two thousand sixteen model. And that automatic braking technology got the top “Superior” rating in IIHS tests.
In day-to-day driving, reviewers surveyed by U.S. News praised the power and swift acceleration of Avalon’s V-6 engine. They also liked its sleek rail and relatively nimble treating for a large family car. The Avalon’s gas mileage is rated by the EPA for twenty one MPG in city driving and thirty one on the highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera, separate climate controls for driver and passenger, and an infotainment system with voice recognition.
​2016 Toyota RAV4
Like the Avalon, the RAV4 has stepped up to a plus rating by adding automatic braking that got a Superior rating for front crash protection. Having only recently gone on sale, this two thousand sixteen puny SUV has not yet been widely reviewed.
The redesigned RAV4 features a Two.5-liter, four-cylinder engine rated for twenty three MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway. In the all-wheel drive version, those ratings drop to twenty two city, twenty nine highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera and a USB connection for music and mobile phone.
​2016 Nissan Maxima
The two thousand sixteen Maxima improved its spectacle in the difficult small-overlap crash test. And it added automatic braking-ranked Superior in IIHS tests to finish off its elevation to Top Safety Pick Plus.
When I test-drove the fresh Maxima, I liked its quick acceleration, thanks to the 300-horsepower, Three.5-liter V-6 engine that’s standard on all versions of the Maxima. Even at highway speeds, hitting the gas pedal gives a swift, satisfying response. The Maxima is rated for twenty two MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway.
​2016 Volkswagen Passat
The updated two thousand sixteen Passat sedan improved its crash test ratings and added automatic braking. That system is rated “Advanced” — the second-best classification but still good enough for a Top Safety Pick Plus. Test drivers praised the Passat for its comfy rail, thick trunk and lots of passenger room.
The 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine is rated for twenty five MPG in city driving and thirty eight on the highway. The optional V-6 engine is rated twenty city, twenty eight highway. No diesel option is presently suggested due to VW’s regulatory tangle involving diesel engine emissions.
​Chrysler 200
The two thousand sixteen Chrysler two hundred improved its automatic braking to get a Superior grade and a Top Safety Pick Plus rating — the only model from a Detroit-based brand to get that rating. Test drivers like the midsize sedan’s precise steering and relatively nimble treating.
The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty three MPG in city driving and thirty six on the highway. Some reviewers feel this engine is underpowered and choose the optional V-6, rated for nineteen city, thirty two highway.
List of two thousand sixteen IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles
Below is a list of the forty eight models that earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. Toyota (TM) leads the list with nine top ratings. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle on the list made in the United States.
Volkswagen Golf ( 4-door hatchback and SportWagen models)
Five of the safest cars on the road – CBS News
Five of the safest cars on the road
In its latest round of testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has cited five models, including two from General Motors, for keeping occupants safe in case of a crash.
In addition, IIHS now is rewarding fresh vehicles that have accident prevention systems. As a result, the two thousand sixteen Audi A6 (shown above in a crash test) gets the Top Safety Pick Plus rating for its technology that hits the brakes if it senses an imminent crash with the vehicle ahead.
Vehicles with top crash test ratings but without such automatic braking get a Top Safety Pick (without the plus) rating. That includes GM’s puny SUVs Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore as well as the Kia Sorento SUV and Nissan Sentra compact car.
IIHS President Adrian Lund said earlier in explaining the fresh ratings that favor automatic braking: “Systems that don’t require a driver response to avoid or mitigate a crash have the most potential for reducing crashes.”
Click here for a closer look at the vehicles that rated tops for crash protection.
Audi A6
The redesigned two thousand sixteen A6 got the top “good” rating in all of the IIHS crash tests, including the difficult petite overlap tests, which approximates hitting a tree or light pole with one corner of the car. IIHS engineers commented that the test dummy’s position after the puny overlap crash indicated good protection of the driver. Other tests include a broader front crash, side crash and roof strength in a rollover crash. The crash prevention equipment on the A6, some of it optional, includes automatic braking plus so-called adaptive cruise control that uses radar to keep the car a certain distance from the vehicle ahead.
In an early review of the two thousand sixteen A6, Car and Driver praised the car for its tech features, cool interior and power and treating. “The A6 does almost everything well whether carving corners or highway cruising,” the reviewer said. The list price for this midsize luxury car ranges from $46,200 up to$70,900.
Chevrolet Trax
The Trax, one of a fresh generation of very puny subcompact SUVs, also got the top “good” rating in all of the IIHS crash tests. Engineers noted that the knee airbag helped protect against gam and foot injuries, while the side airbag protected the driver’s head in a side collision. Just introduced this year by General Motors, the Trax includes another significant standard safety feature — a rearview camera to help avoid backup accidents.
The Trax has EPA ratings of twenty six MPG in city driving, thirty four on the highway — among the highest in its class. But reviewers surveyed by U.S.News criticized the Trax for sluggish acceleration and cheap interior materials. The Trax list price ranges from $20,120 to $26,530.
Buick Encore
A GM corporate sibling to the Chevrolet Trax, the Encore also was top-rated in all the IIHS crash tests. Engineers noted that in the puny overlap front crash the front and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the test dummy’s head away from injury-threatening stiff structures of the petite SUV.
The Encore’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine is rated at twenty five MPG city, thirty three highway. Even with the turbo boost, reviewers found the Encore’s acceleration a bit sluggish. But they praised its comfy upscale interior and quiet rail, as well as good treating through turns. The Encore list price ranges from $24,065 to $30,935.
Kia Sorento
The Sorento, a mid-size SUV, has been fully redesigned with the two thousand sixteen model. Like the other vehicles on this list, it scored a top-rated “good” on all the IIHS crash tests. The Sorento scored very well in the roof strength test approximating a rollover — in which the roof must bear four times the vehicle’s weight before crumbling.
Test drivers found the standard four-cylinder engine, rated for 21MPG city and twenty nine highway a little sluggish. You can get much better acceleration with the V-6 option. But there is a mileage penalty with ratings of eighteen city, twenty six highway. Reviewers do praise the Sorento’s stylish and roomy interior and ample cargo room. The Sorento’s list price ranges from $24,900 to $43,100.
Nissan Sentra
The Sentra, the only compact car on this list, also got top ratings in all crash tests. Test engineers noted that in the side crash test, side curtain air bags protected the goes of both driver and passenger.
Reviewers recommend the Sentra as a good daily commuter car because of its spacious cabin and good gas mileage, rated at twenty nine MPG city, thirty nine highway with an automatic transmission. But test drivers found the Sentra underpowered for passing on the highway. Sentra’s list price ranges from $16,480 to $20,760.
Five of the safest cars on the road – CBS News
Five of the safest cars on the road
In its latest round of testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has cited five models, including two from General Motors, for keeping occupants safe in case of a crash.
In addition, IIHS now is rewarding fresh vehicles that have accident prevention systems. As a result, the two thousand sixteen Audi A6 (shown above in a crash test) gets the Top Safety Pick Plus rating for its technology that hits the brakes if it senses an imminent crash with the vehicle ahead.
Vehicles with top crash test ratings but without such automatic braking get a Top Safety Pick (without the plus) rating. That includes GM’s petite SUVs Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore as well as the Kia Sorento SUV and Nissan Sentra compact car.
IIHS President Adrian Lund said earlier in explaining the fresh ratings that favor automatic braking: “Systems that don’t require a driver response to avoid or mitigate a crash have the most potential for reducing crashes.”
Click here for a closer look at the vehicles that rated tops for crash protection.
Audi A6
The redesigned two thousand sixteen A6 got the top “good” rating in all of the IIHS crash tests, including the difficult puny overlap tests, which approximates hitting a tree or light pole with one corner of the car. IIHS engineers commented that the test dummy’s position after the puny overlap crash indicated good protection of the driver. Other tests include a broader front crash, side crash and roof strength in a rollover crash. The crash prevention equipment on the A6, some of it optional, includes automatic braking plus so-called adaptive cruise control that uses radar to keep the car a certain distance from the vehicle ahead.
In an early review of the two thousand sixteen A6, Car and Driver praised the car for its tech features, beautiful interior and power and treating. “The A6 does almost everything well whether carving corners or highway cruising,” the reviewer said. The list price for this midsize luxury car ranges from $46,200 up to$70,900.
Chevrolet Trax
The Trax, one of a fresh generation of very puny subcompact SUVs, also got the top “good” rating in all of the IIHS crash tests. Engineers noted that the knee airbag helped protect against gam and foot injuries, while the side airbag protected the driver’s head in a side collision. Just introduced this year by General Motors, the Trax includes another significant standard safety feature — a rearview camera to help avoid backup accidents.
The Trax has EPA ratings of twenty six MPG in city driving, thirty four on the highway — among the highest in its class. But reviewers surveyed by U.S.News criticized the Trax for sluggish acceleration and cheap interior materials. The Trax list price ranges from $20,120 to $26,530.
Buick Encore
A GM corporate sibling to the Chevrolet Trax, the Encore also was top-rated in all the IIHS crash tests. Engineers noted that in the petite overlap front crash the front and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the test dummy’s head away from injury-threatening stiff structures of the puny SUV.
The Encore’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine is rated at twenty five MPG city, thirty three highway. Even with the turbo boost, reviewers found the Encore’s acceleration a bit sluggish. But they praised its convenient upscale interior and quiet rail, as well as good treating through turns. The Encore list price ranges from $24,065 to $30,935.
Kia Sorento
The Sorento, a mid-size SUV, has been downright redesigned with the two thousand sixteen model. Like the other vehicles on this list, it scored a top-rated “good” on all the IIHS crash tests. The Sorento scored very well in the roof strength test approximating a rollover — in which the roof must bear four times the vehicle’s weight before crumbling.
Test drivers found the standard four-cylinder engine, rated for 21MPG city and twenty nine highway a little sluggish. You can get much better acceleration with the V-6 option. But there is a mileage penalty with ratings of eighteen city, twenty six highway. Reviewers do praise the Sorento’s stylish and roomy interior and ample cargo room. The Sorento’s list price ranges from $24,900 to $43,100.
Nissan Sentra
The Sentra, the only compact car on this list, also got top ratings in all crash tests. Test engineers noted that in the side crash test, side curtain air bags protected the goes of both driver and passenger.
Reviewers recommend the Sentra as a good daily commuter car because of its spacious cabin and good gas mileage, rated at twenty nine MPG city, thirty nine highway with an automatic transmission. But test drivers found the Sentra underpowered for passing on the highway. Sentra’s list price ranges from $16,480 to $20,760.
Five of the safest cars on the road – CBS News
Five of the safest cars on the road
Crash-test dummies are so last year. Both the U.S. government and private auto-safety raters made evident this week how tougher standards are moving beyond crash tests that just measure passenger protection. Now, they’re evaluating systems that can avoid accidents altogether.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a private organization funded by the insurance industry, has released its list of two thousand sixteen models that get its two top ratings: Top Safety Pick Plus and Top Safety Pick. To get the best rating, a vehicle must not only score well in crash tests but also include well-rated accident-avoidance technology, such as automatic braking.
Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — part of the U.S. Department of Transportation — announced earlier this week that it’s revising its 5-Star rating system to include automatic braking and other accident-avoidance features. DOT said it hopes the switches will prompt quicker adoption of the fresh technologies, ideally eventually becoming as widespread as airbags and electronic stability control have in past decades.
Demonstrating how quick adoption of automatic braking is spreading, the IIHS list of two thousand sixteen cars includes forty eight models that earn a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. To build up one of the top two ratings, a vehicle must get a top score of “Good” in crash tests that cover front and side influence and rollover accidents, and also have accident-prevention technology. If those automatic braking systems pass the IIHS tests, the vehicle then gets a Top Safety Pick Plus rating.
On the two thousand sixteen IIHS list, Toyota (TM) leads all manufacturers with nine Top Safety Pick Plus ratings. Honda (HMC) has eight, Volkswagen (VLKAY) and its Audi subsidiary seven and Subaru six. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle from a Detroit-based brand to get a Top Safety Pick Plus award. Among the thirteen Top Safety Pick choices, General Motors (GM) has five and Ford (F) has one, the F-150 SuperCrew pickup.
Tougher standards this year — both for accident-avoidance technology and an especially difficult crash test — eliminated more than twenty vehicles that won the Top Safety Pick for their two thousand fifteen models.
On the other palm, IIHS singled out five vehicles that improved their ratings because they added automatic braking for 2016.
Click ahead for a closer look at those five models, and to see a utter list of 2016’s top-rated vehicles.
​2016 Toyota Avalon
The Avalon, a Top Safety Pick last year, moves up a notch to Top Safety Pick Plus, given its addition of automatic braking for collision avoidance in the two thousand sixteen model. And that automatic braking technology got the top “Superior” rating in IIHS tests.
In day-to-day driving, reviewers surveyed by U.S. News praised the power and swift acceleration of Avalon’s V-6 engine. They also liked its sleek rail and relatively nimble treating for a large family car. The Avalon’s gas mileage is rated by the EPA for twenty one MPG in city driving and thirty one on the highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera, separate climate controls for driver and passenger, and an infotainment system with voice recognition.
​2016 Toyota RAV4
Like the Avalon, the RAV4 has stepped up to a plus rating by adding automatic braking that got a Superior rating for front crash protection. Having only recently gone on sale, this two thousand sixteen puny SUV has not yet been widely reviewed.
The redesigned RAV4 features a Two.5-liter, four-cylinder engine rated for twenty three MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway. In the all-wheel drive version, those ratings drop to twenty two city, twenty nine highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera and a USB connection for music and mobile phone.
​2016 Nissan Maxima
The two thousand sixteen Maxima improved its spectacle in the difficult small-overlap crash test. And it added automatic braking-ranked Superior in IIHS tests to finish off its elevation to Top Safety Pick Plus.
When I test-drove the fresh Maxima, I liked its quick acceleration, thanks to the 300-horsepower, Three.5-liter V-6 engine that’s standard on all versions of the Maxima. Even at highway speeds, hitting the gas pedal gives a swift, satisfying response. The Maxima is rated for twenty two MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway.
​2016 Volkswagen Passat
The updated two thousand sixteen Passat sedan improved its crash test ratings and added automatic braking. That system is rated “Advanced” — the second-best classification but still good enough for a Top Safety Pick Plus. Test drivers praised the Passat for its convenient rail, hefty trunk and lots of passenger room.
The 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine is rated for twenty five MPG in city driving and thirty eight on the highway. The optional V-6 engine is rated twenty city, twenty eight highway. No diesel option is presently suggested due to VW’s regulatory tangle involving diesel engine emissions.
​Chrysler 200
The two thousand sixteen Chrysler two hundred improved its automatic braking to get a Superior grade and a Top Safety Pick Plus rating — the only model from a Detroit-based brand to get that rating. Test drivers like the midsize sedan’s precise steering and relatively nimble treating.
The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty three MPG in city driving and thirty six on the highway. Some reviewers feel this engine is underpowered and choose the optional V-6, rated for nineteen city, thirty two highway.
List of two thousand sixteen IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles
Below is a list of the forty eight models that earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. Toyota (TM) leads the list with nine top ratings. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle on the list made in the United States.
Volkswagen Golf ( 4-door hatchback and SportWagen models)
Five of the safest cars on the road – CBS News
Five of the safest cars on the road
Crash-test dummies are so last year. Both the U.S. government and private auto-safety raters made evident this week how tougher standards are moving beyond crash tests that just measure passenger protection. Now, they’re evaluating systems that can avoid accidents altogether.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a private organization funded by the insurance industry, has released its list of two thousand sixteen models that get its two top ratings: Top Safety Pick Plus and Top Safety Pick. To get the best rating, a vehicle must not only score well in crash tests but also include well-rated accident-avoidance technology, such as automatic braking.
Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — part of the U.S. Department of Transportation — announced earlier this week that it’s revising its 5-Star rating system to include automatic braking and other accident-avoidance features. DOT said it hopes the switches will prompt swifter adoption of the fresh technologies, ideally eventually becoming as widespread as airbags and electronic stability control have in past decades.
Demonstrating how quick adoption of automatic braking is spreading, the IIHS list of two thousand sixteen cars includes forty eight models that earn a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. To build up one of the top two ratings, a vehicle must get a top score of “Good” in crash tests that cover front and side influence and rollover accidents, and also have accident-prevention technology. If those automatic braking systems pass the IIHS tests, the vehicle then gets a Top Safety Pick Plus rating.
On the two thousand sixteen IIHS list, Toyota (TM) leads all manufacturers with nine Top Safety Pick Plus ratings. Honda (HMC) has eight, Volkswagen (VLKAY) and its Audi subsidiary seven and Subaru six. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle from a Detroit-based brand to get a Top Safety Pick Plus award. Among the thirteen Top Safety Pick choices, General Motors (GM) has five and Ford (F) has one, the F-150 SuperCrew pickup.
Tougher standards this year — both for accident-avoidance technology and an especially difficult crash test — eliminated more than twenty vehicles that won the Top Safety Pick for their two thousand fifteen models.
On the other forearm, IIHS singled out five vehicles that improved their ratings because they added automatic braking for 2016.
Click ahead for a closer look at those five models, and to see a utter list of 2016’s top-rated vehicles.
​2016 Toyota Avalon
The Avalon, a Top Safety Pick last year, moves up a notch to Top Safety Pick Plus, given its addition of automatic braking for collision avoidance in the two thousand sixteen model. And that automatic braking technology got the top “Superior” rating in IIHS tests.
In day-to-day driving, reviewers surveyed by U.S. News praised the power and swift acceleration of Avalon’s V-6 engine. They also liked its sleek rail and relatively nimble treating for a large family car. The Avalon’s gas mileage is rated by the EPA for twenty one MPG in city driving and thirty one on the highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera, separate climate controls for driver and passenger, and an infotainment system with voice recognition.
​2016 Toyota RAV4
Like the Avalon, the RAV4 has stepped up to a plus rating by adding automatic braking that got a Superior rating for front crash protection. Having only recently gone on sale, this two thousand sixteen petite SUV has not yet been widely reviewed.
The redesigned RAV4 features a Two.5-liter, four-cylinder engine rated for twenty three MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway. In the all-wheel drive version, those ratings drop to twenty two city, twenty nine highway. Standard features include a rear-view camera and a USB connection for music and mobile phone.
​2016 Nissan Maxima
The two thousand sixteen Maxima improved its spectacle in the difficult small-overlap crash test. And it added automatic braking-ranked Superior in IIHS tests to finish off its elevation to Top Safety Pick Plus.
When I test-drove the fresh Maxima, I liked its quick acceleration, thanks to the 300-horsepower, Trio.5-liter V-6 engine that’s standard on all versions of the Maxima. Even at highway speeds, hitting the gas pedal gives a swift, satisfying response. The Maxima is rated for twenty two MPG in city driving, thirty on the highway.
​2016 Volkswagen Passat
The updated two thousand sixteen Passat sedan improved its crash test ratings and added automatic braking. That system is rated “Advanced” — the second-best classification but still good enough for a Top Safety Pick Plus. Test drivers praised the Passat for its comfy rail, ample trunk and lots of passenger room.
The 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine is rated for twenty five MPG in city driving and thirty eight on the highway. The optional V-6 engine is rated twenty city, twenty eight highway. No diesel option is presently suggested due to VW’s regulatory tangle involving diesel engine emissions.
​Chrysler 200
The two thousand sixteen Chrysler two hundred improved its automatic braking to get a Superior grade and a Top Safety Pick Plus rating — the only model from a Detroit-based brand to get that rating. Test drivers like the midsize sedan’s precise steering and relatively nimble treating.
The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty three MPG in city driving and thirty six on the highway. Some reviewers feel this engine is underpowered and choose the optional V-6, rated for nineteen city, thirty two highway.
List of two thousand sixteen IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles
Below is a list of the forty eight models that earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating. Toyota (TM) leads the list with nine top ratings. Chrysler’s (FCAU) two hundred is the only vehicle on the list made in the United States.
Volkswagen Golf ( 4-door hatchback and SportWagen models)