Vehicles Awarded IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards Skyrockets for 2015

Judging by the agency's evaluations, the numbers look quite positive.

According to the institute, 71 vehicles earned either the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ rating so far in its testing for 2015. Among the latest winners, there have been 33 TSP+ awards and 38 TSP medalists. That's a healthy increase over the 22 TSP+ and 17 TSP grades in 2014.

The figures appear even more impressive when you consider that it keeps getting harder to earn the + designation. In the latest round of testing, a vehicle must offer some form of front crash prevention automatic braking to get the mark. Previously, just a warning to drivers was necessary.

This list also illustrates the ways that automakers adapt to new testing procedures. In 2013 there were 117 TSP ratings and 13 TSP+ awards. Then, the IIHS mandated that to be a safety pick, a model had to score Good in the institute's four crash tests, plus a Good or Acceptable in the small overlap front test. That brought a plunge in 2014 to just 17 TSP grades. With the numbers climbing again, companies apparently have deciphered how to perform better.

Some brands especially stood out on this year's list. The IIHS praised Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Acura for offering standard front crash prevention systems on some models. Subaru received at least one of the awards for all seven of its models. Toyota also had seven, and the Honda brand did too – though the institute counts the two- and four-door versions of the Civic and Accord separately.

 The full list can be viewed, here.

			Small  overlap  test	Front  crash  prevention
MINICARS		Chevrolet Spark	A	none
		Honda Fit	A	none
SMALL CARS		Lexus CT 200h built after September 2014	G
		Mazda 3	G
		Subaru Impreza	G
		Subaru XV Crosstrek	G
		Toyota Prius	A
		Chevrolet Volt	A
		Dodge Dart	A	none
		Ford C-Max Hybrid	A	none
		Ford Focus	A	none
		Honda Civic 2-door	G	none
		Honda Civic 4-door	G
		Hyundai Elantra sedan	A	none
		Kia Soul	G	none
		Mini Cooper Countryman	G	none
		Mitsubishi Lancer except Ralliart and Evolution	A	none
		Scion FR-S	A	none
		Scion tC	A	none
		Subaru BRZ	A	none
		Subaru WRX	G	none
		Volkswagen Golf 4-door	G
		Volkswagen GTI 4-door	G
MIDSIZE MODERATELY  PRICED CARS		Chrysler 200	G
		Mazda 6	A
		Subaru Legacy	G
		Subaru Outback	G
		Toyota Camry	G
		Toyota Prius v	G
		Chevrolet Malibu	G
		Ford Fusion	A
		Honda Accord 2-door	G
		Honda Accord 4-door	G
		Hyundai Sonata	A
		Kia Optima	A	none
		Nissan Altima	A	none
		Volkswagen Jetta	G
		Volkswagen Passat	A	none
MIDSIZE LUXURY CARS		Acura TLX	A
		Audi A3	G
		BMW 2 series	G
		Infiniti Q50	A
		Volvo S60	G
		Volvo V60	G
		Lincoln MKZ	A
LARGE FAMILY CAR		Toyota Avalon	G
LARGE LUXURY CARS		Acura RLX	G
		Hyundai Genesis	G
		Infiniti Q70 except V-8 4WD	G
		Lexus RC	G
		Mercedes-Benz E-Class	G
		Volvo S80	G
SMALL SUVs		Honda CR-V	G
		Mazda CX-5	G
		Mitsubishi Outlander	G
		Subaru Forester	G
		Mitsubishi Outlander Sport	A	none
		Nissan Rogue	G
		Toyota RAV4 built after November 2014	G	none
MIDSIZE SUVs		Toyota Highlander	A
		Chevrolet Equinox	G
		GMC Terrain	G
		Nissan Pathfinder	G	none
MIDSIZE LUXURY SUVs		Acura MDX	G
		Lexus NX	G
		Mercedes-Benz M-Class	G
		Volvo XC60	G
		Infiniti QX60	G
Minivans		Toyota Sienna	A
		Honda Odyssey	G
		Kia Sedona	G