The Safest Cars for 2016

Each year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests new vehicle models across the board to determine their overall safety. Using a series of specific tests, the IIHS is able to then give ratings to each car, according to how well it will protect its occupants in the event of a crash.

The result is the annual list of Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ vehicles. The ratings are broken down by “crashworthiness” for each part of the vehicle–each section receiving a grade of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor–and whether or not they have adequate front crash prevention–rated Basic, Advanced, or Superior . If you want a car that will protect yourself and your family, one of these is a good place to start looking.

The cars are broken down by size categories, with some categories being significantly safer than others. For example, there is only one model–the 2016 Scion iA–that made Top Safety Pick+ in the minicar category. You can also see improvement in some categories, for example midsize SUVs, which have traditionally been the weakest performing vehicles in terms of safety, have far more Top Safety Pick+ models than could be found on last year’s list.

To see all of the Top Safety Picks for this year, check out the full list on the IIHS website. You are able to view the ratings and specifics of each vehicle by clicking on it. You can also view safety picks from previous years.