The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named 36 models to its 2022 Top Safety Pick award and 65 models have received its 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award. 

This year, no trucks made the Top Safety Pick+ award list, but four trucks were award the Top Safety Pick award for 2022: 

• SMALL PICKUPS

  • Hyundai Santa Cruz with specific headlights.

• LARGE PICKUP

  • Ford F-150 crew cab with specific headlights.

  • Ford F-150 extended cab with specific headlights.

  • Ram 1500 crew cab with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights.

“We’re excited to see more vehicles on this list in 2022,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “Our awards make it easy for car buyers to find models that will protect them in a crash and increase the odds they’ll never be in one. By shooting for TOP SAFETY PICK+, automakers are showing that they’re committed to the same goal.”

All the 2022 award winners earn good ratings in six IIHS crashworthiness tests, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests. They are also available with front crash prevention systems that earn advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations, as well as at least one headlight system that earns a good or acceptable rating.

While front crash prevention does not have to be standard to qualify for either award, the automakers have pledged to make vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking standard on nearly all the light-duty vehicles they produce beginning this September.

The award criteria remain unchanged from last year, but, beginning in 2023, IIHS will add two new evaluations to the award requirements.

The updated side test the Institute introduced in 2021 — which is conducted at a higher speed and with a heavier movable barrier — will replace the original side test in the criteria. A good or acceptable rating will be required for TOP SAFETY PICK, while a good rating will be necessary to earn the “plus.”

A nighttime pedestrian crash prevention test will also be added. For 2023, this new test will not be part of the criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK, but vehicles will need to earn an advanced or superior rating to qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK+.

Also beginning in 2023, only vehicles that come with standard good or acceptable headlights across all trims and packages will be eligible for either award.