Top Safety Picks; the MPG watch; hope on wheels
The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has spoken, and automakers have listened.
For 2016, 48 vehicles have earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards, an increase from the 33 models that qualified for that status a year ago. This is despite having to meet tougher criteria for 2016.
To achieve the highest rating, a vehicle must earn good ratings in all five IIHS crashworthiness evaluations—small front overlap, moderate front overlap, side impact, roof strength, and head restraint tests—plus receive an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention systems.
The 48 plus winners have front-crash prevention systems with automatic braking capabilities.
It should be noted that many models win the award with “available’’ crash prevention systems, meaning that the feature only is available on higher trim levels.
One notable exception is the Scion iA. With a base price in the $16,000 range, it becomes the first low-priced vehicle with a standard autobraking capability.
Besides the iA, autobraking is standard on a few luxury vehicles, including all Volvos, the Acura RLX, and select Mercedes-Benzes.
Subaru deserves a tip of the hat because all six of its models—the 2016 Legacy, Outback, Forester, Impreza, WRX, and Crosstrek—earned the top rating, though to qualify they have to be equipped with the company’s optional EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.
“We asked auto manufacturers to do more this year to qualify for our safety awards, and they delivered,’’ says Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “For the first time, a good rating in the challenging small overlap crash test is a requirement, in addition to an available front crash prevention system.’’
The number of vehicles with standard autobraking is expected to increase in the near future under a voluntary agreement being developed by automakers, the IIHS, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“The rigorous testing by IIHS encourages manufacturers to continue building safer vehicles,’’ says Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “I am proud of Subaru for consistently scoring their highest possible ratings. These awards represent our commitment to providing the highest level of safety standards to our customers.’’
Given the number of odd driving practices we’re noting on the highway these days (and the subject of a coming column), this is a good thing.
Top Safety Pick+ Vehicles
Minicar: Scion iA.
Small cars: Acura ILX, Lexus CT 200h, Mazda3 sedan, Mazda3 hatchback, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Impreza, Subaru WRX, Volkswagen Golf (hatchback, SportWagen) and GTI (4-door models).
Midsize moderately priced cars: Chrysler 200, Honda Accord sedan, Honda Accord coupe, Mazda6, Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat.
Midsize higher priced cars: Audi A3, BMW 2 Series, Lexus ES, Volvo S60, Volvo V60.
Large family car: Toyota Avalon.
Large Luxury Cars: Acura RLX, Audi A6 (built after January 2015), Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti Q70 (except V-8 4WD), Lexus RC, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80.
Small SUVs: Fiat 500X (built after July 2015), Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4.
Midsize SUVs: Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano.
Midsize Luxury SUVs: Acura MDX, Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Lexus NX, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90.
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The safest cars of 2016
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The MPG Watch
The average fuel economy, as noted on the window stickers of new vehicles sold in the United States in November, was 25.0 mpg, down 0.1 mpg from the October values.
According to Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, the decline likely reflects the continuing drop in the price of gasoline and the resulting increase in sales of pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.
Overall fuel economy in new vehicles is down 0.8 mpg from the peak in August 2014, but still up 4.9 mpg since the group started monitoring in October 2007.
Traffic Report
Heavy traffic is such a fact of life in this region that many drivers have radio presets for WBZ’s “Traffic on the 3s’’ and satellite radio’s regional traffic and weather reports.
Now Subaru is offering a three-year subscription to SiriusXM’s Traffic and Travel Link, plus three years of free map updates on all 2016 models equipped with navigation.
That’s in addition to the four-month introductory subscription to the SiriusXM all-access package.
Hope on Wheels
Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels program, which has supported pediatric cancer research for the past 17 years, passed the $100 million milestone in funding support this year. Locally, Ray Ciccolo’s Hyundai Village is participating in the Liberty Tree Mall’s Holiday Giving Garden, where there’s a Giving Tree decorated with handmade ornaments, each of which lists a pediatric patient’s age and desired gift. You can take the ornament and leave the gift under the tree, which Hyundai will wrap and deliver to Dana Farber for the children who are undergoing treatment during the holiday season.
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