- Eight EVs earned Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the IIHS
- The Cadillac Lyriq was not one of those EVs
- Mazda and Volvo PHEVs have joined the list of Top Safety Pick+ winners
A few more electric cars and plug-in hybrids have benefited the industry the most difficult safety award with a Top Safety Pick+ rating in the final IIHS test round of the year, but one model missed out.
The IIHS has tightened the requirements to earn the Top Safety+ award and the second category Top Safety Pick award this year, but eight EVs you get the option+ high security status in the first round of awards announced in September, nine other models received the coveted Top Safety Pick award.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally
On Tuesday the IIHS announced that, after an additional round of testing aimed at addressing models that have not yet undergone advanced front overlap crash testing or been modified to achieve better performance, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E and 2025 Rivian. The R1S has joined the list of Top Safety Pick+ winners.
Integrated versions of the plug-in The 2025 Mazda CX-70 and 2024 and 2025 Volvo XC90 are also newly named Top Safety Pick+ winners. No new EVs or plug-in hybrids joined the ranks of Top Safety Pick winners this time around.
To be eligible for either award, cars now need a maximum rating of “Good” in the small front overlap test and the updated side crash test, an “Acceptable” or “Good” rating in the front pedestrian crash prevention test, and similar headlights. measurements at all levels of determination. The last requirement raised the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq, which is got a “Bad” rating..
2025 Rivian R1S
Introduced in the 2023 model year, the Lyriq sees little change for 2025and a reduction in price, but nothing can affect its brightness rating. That said, sometimes automakers work with the IIHS to address problems found in the agency's inspections, so Cadillac can make filter changes later in the model year.
The Top Safety Pick+ award also requires a “Good” or “Acceptable” score in the advanced limited-overlap front crash test, which adds a second crash test dummy behind the driver and looks closely at rear-seat safety. A “Good” rating in the first version of this test is enough for a Top Safety Pick award for the lower division.