The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized three small SUVs — the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, the RAV4 Prime, and the RAV4 — with safety awards. Specifically, the Corolla Cross, a new model, and the RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid, have captured the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award.  The RAV4 rolls away with the lower tier Top Safety Pick award when outfitted with specific headlights.

The three Toyota SUVs were put through the paces, earning good scores across the board in six rigorous crashworthiness evaluations. These included the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.

But to qualify for either award, vehicles must also be available with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.

All three SUVs met the measure. Each vehicle comes with a standard front crash prevention system that scored superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests.

Headlights are one more area where IIHS engineers apply exacting standards. In order to garner a Top Safety Pick award, at least one good or acceptable headlight system must be available. But to qualify for “plus” status, good or acceptable headlights must be standard across all trims.

Both the Corolla Cross and the RAV4 Prime came out on top, giving them the final factor needed for the highest tier safety recognition. The standard LED projector headlights offered on the Corolla Cross earn an acceptable rating, while the optional, curve-adaptive headlights available with the XLE trim are rated good. The RAV4 Prime comes with good-rated LED projectors, regardless of trim.

In the case of the RAV4, the LED reflector headlights provided on the LE trim earn only a marginal rating, preventing it from capturing “plus” status. All other trims, which are equipped with good-rated LED projector headlights, are now recognized as Top Safety Pick winners.