{"id":86827,"date":"2014-12-23T13:23:37","date_gmt":"2014-12-23T18:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=86827"},"modified":"2014-12-23T13:23:38","modified_gmt":"2014-12-23T18:23:38","slug":"list-of-safest-cars-nearly-doubles-for-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2014\/12\/list-of-safest-cars-nearly-doubles-for-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"List of \u201cSafest\u201d Cars Nearly Doubles for 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The number of vehicles earning one of the top two ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has nearly doubled for 2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The number of vehicles earning one of the top two ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has nearly doubled for 2015 despite the industry\u2019s ongoing recall problems.<\/p>\n

A total of 71 vehicles have earned either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award, the insurance industry research arm announced Tuesday, up from just 39 models during 2014. And that\u2019s despite making it tougher to earn the top rating.<\/p>\n

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A Real Performer!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“This is the third year in a row that we are giving automakers a tougher challenge to meet,” said IIHS President Adrian Lund, who stressed that the industry is \u201cgreatly improving\u201d its crash protection.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s at both the passive level \u2013 in terms of improved vehicle crash structures \u2013 and with the new active safety systems designed to prevent a crash in the first place.<\/p>\n

The news might come as a surprise to some American motorists considering that the U.S. auto industry will end the year have recalled more than 60 million vehicles, nearly double the previous peak. But Lund said that shows the industry is trying to address the growing focus on safety.<\/p>\n

And while some recalls have been linked to deadly problems \u2013 42 fatalities so far blamed on General Motors\u2019 faulty ignition switches \u2013 the reality is that highway death rates have been falling sharply. The latest fatality numbers are down about 40% from their 1970s peak, even though there are significantly more vehicles on the road traveling far more miles.<\/p>\n

Last year actually saw the number of \u201csafest\u201d vehicles dip a bit as the IIHS increased its standards. Notably, a number of 2014 models failed to meet the new small overlap crash test designed to simulate what happens when a vehicle hits a pole or barely clips another vehicle head-on.<\/p>\n

Automakers have been racing to meet that new test, Honda among those who were able to pass with the 2015 remake of its CR-V crossover-utility vehicle. Honda had the second-highest tally overall, with 10 models falling into one of the two categories.<\/p>\n

Rival Toyota landed the most vehicles in the latest IIHS report\u2019s Top Safety Pick+ category, eight of its models overall. Toyota also landed four more in the slightly less demanding Top Safety Pick category. The Japanese giant showed some significant improvements in the latest round of IIHS crash tests. Its popular Prius \u201cwas one of the worst performers ever in the small overlap test,\u201d noted an IIHS release. This year, however, the hybrid was improved enough to earn a Top Safety Pick+ award.<\/p>\n

(Three minivans flunk latest offset crash test. For more, <\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Detroit makers had 10 Top Safety Picks, including five from General Motors. But Chrysler was the only domestic to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating, that for the new Chrysler 200 sedan.<\/p>\n

Other vehicles rated Top Safety Pick+ with \u201cgood\u201d small overlap crash ratings included:<\/p>\n