2016 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.
Small cars
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Acura ILX 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick
2016 Chevrolet Sonic 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2017 Chevrolet Volt 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Honda Civic 2-door coupe
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Honda Civic 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2017 Hyundai Elantra 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention, applies only to sedans;
applies only to vehicles built after March 2016
Top Safety Pick
2016 Kia Soul 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Lexus CT 200h 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Mazda 3 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Mazda 3 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Nissan Sentra 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Subaru Crosstrek 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Subaru Impreza 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Subaru WRX 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Toyota Prius 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Volkswagen Golf 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention and applies only to 4-door models
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Volkswagen GTI 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention and applies only to 4-door models
2016 criteria
To qualify for 2016 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in five crashworthiness tests — driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraints — as well as a basic rating for front crash prevention.
To qualify for 2016 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn good ratings in those five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
Vehicles with optional front crash prevention qualify for either award only when equipped with the technology.