2015 Top Safety Picks
Vehicles that perform best in our evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
Midsize luxury SUVs
Top Safety Pick+
2015-16 Acura MDX 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Acura RDX 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2015 Audi Q5 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
applies only to vehicles built after January 2015
Top Safety Pick
2015 Infiniti QX60 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2015 Lexus NX 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2015 Volvo XC60 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Volvo XC90 4-door SUV
2015 criteria
To qualify for 2015 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the driver-side small overlap front test.
To qualify for 2015 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must meet the Top Safety Pick criteria, plus earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention. Top Safety Pick+ winners with optional front crash prevention qualify for the higher award only when equipped with the technology. However when not equipped, they still meet the criteria for Top Safety Pick.