When Motor Trend gets a group of vehicles together, you know you’re going to see a podium filled with the absolute best vehicles in the segment. Our winners are chosen based on our exacting standards. We took a look back at recent winners to see how many have kept up with the tightening safety criteria introduced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards.
A few of our recent winners are still going strong with few changes in the same generation, but others have introduced all-new models. In time we’ll compare them all again to see if they still merit your attention, but for now we’re looking to see if they’re still near the front of the pack when it comes to safety.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Before the Volkswagen GTI stormed Motor Trend’s 2015 Car of the Year event, the iconic hot hatch was beating all comers in the sporty segment. The Volkswagen GTI took first place against the Subaru WRX, Honda Civic Si, and Mini Cooper S Hardtop. We called the GTI “calm, cool, and collected. And damn quick.” The 2016 Volkswagen GTI remains a fun and safe ride, earning the IIHS’ TSP+ award when equipped with the optional front crash prevention features.
Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX was right behind the excellent Volkswagen GTI in our comparison of hot hatches under $30,000. It’s loud, fast, and has all-wheel drive to keep it planted. Although not enough to sway our judges in the hot hatch comparo, the WRX STI blew the BMW M235i and Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG out of the water in a second comparison, taking a gold to add to the silver medal won by the slightly less outrageous WRX. Adding the outstanding Subaru EyeSight suite of active safety technology, and the WRX aces the IIHS tests for a TSP+ rating, placing it among the safest cars on the road today.
Mazda CX-5
Why do we love the 2016 Mazda CX-5? It handles better than any two-row crossover ought to, and it also delivers everything we expect from a more “practical” crossover. If you want/need a crossover that’s safe (IIHS TSP+ for the 2016 model with the optional front crash prevention technology) but still fun to drive, the CX-5 is worth a close look.
Subaru Forester
We liked the Subaru Forester in our compact (two-row) crossover comparison but didn’t love it as much as the Mazda CX-5. “Fun, nimbleness, and all-wheel-drive security are on the plus side,” we said, “but poor interior choices keep it from the winner’s circle.” The 2016 Subaru Forester is also gifted with Subaru EyeSight, one of the best suites of safety features available today. The Forester is also a TSP+ winner and is most fun with the turbocharged engine found on the XT trim level.
Toyota RAV4
Times have changed since we awarded a bronze medal to the 2013 Toyota RAV4. For starters, you can now get a hybrid. The interior has also improved marginally with more soft-touch materials in all the right places, and it adds a 2016 TSP+ rating, too. The only trouble is our tagline still fits: “The Safe AND Unexciting Choice.” Resale value is great, fuel economy is great, and build quality is great, but excitement isn’t great. If you just need transportation, look no further.
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat continues to deliver, as we said before, “all the essentials, and much more,” and it remains solidly in the “safe” category with the optional front crash prevention goodies, which help it earn a TSP+ rating for 2016. When we compared the Passat to the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu, the Volkswagen came out looking like the best choice. We appreciated the attention to driving dynamics that seemed to be missing from the competition.
Honda Accord
We praised the Honda Accord in our comparison and pointed to its many positives while only seeing one major negative, “You will never have any fun in it,” we noted. If you prefer a V-6 or aren’t terribly excited about the reputation Volkswagen has been making for itself, the Honda Accord is a strong choice in the midsize sedan segment. Both coupe and sedan versions of the Accord manage to earn the TSP+ rating with optional front crash prevention, so you don’t have to feel tied to a particular body style.
Audi S6
In a more recent comparison among midsize sporty luxury sedans, we pitted the Audi S6 against the Lexus GS F and Cadillac CTS V-Sport, and the Audi took third place. Add the optional front crash prevention technology, and the Audi A6 (change a few parts and you have the S6) is a TSP+ winner; the Cadillac and Lexus, on the other hand, stop short. The Lexus hasn’t been completely tested, but the Cadillac received a less than stellar mark on the small overlap front crash test (Marginal, with only Poor being a worse score). We called the Audi S6 a little soft for our tastes, but if safety is a priority, you might want to consider a small compromise.
Nissan Murano
The Nissan Murano’s strongest points are its style and handling. It surprised us by driving better than we expected it to and by having a distinctive exterior and an interior that put its competition from Ford and Hyundai to shame. The optional front crash prevention gets you a TSP+ rating, and the Platinum gets you a nice mix of luxury and comfort to go along with the Murano’s capable handling and polarizing looks. Did we love the exterior unanimously? Nope. Did we give it props for being bold? Oh, yeah.
Ford F-150
The one thing holding the 2016 Ford F-150 back from that coveted + and leaving it with only a TSP rating from the IIHS is the lack of an emergency forward collision prevention system. The Ford pickup lacks the ability to brake should you not respond quickly enough to a detected threat, but it does give you a warning. During a three-way comparison between the usual full-size pickup suspects (Ram, Ford, and Chevrolet), we gave the Ford F-150 a silver medal, noting that it was incredibly capable but that it didn’t quite live up to the hype surrounding the aluminum weight-savings benefits.
The Silverado hasn’t been fully crash tested by the IIHS, and the Ram received a Marginal rating for roof strength (Poor being the lowest rating and Good being the highest). When the Silverado has been fully tested, it could make a run to tie the Ford for safest trucks on the market, but as things are now, Ford stands alone.
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