Safety First: Subaru Solterra Secures Top Spot in IIHS’s Rigorous 2024 Safety Awards for EVs

The 2024 Subaru Solterra is among the few electric vehicles to receive the highest safety honor, the Top Safety Pick+ award, as announced by the IIHS on Thursday.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has increased the standards needed to secure its premier award, Top Safety Pick+, as well as the next level down, Top Safety Pick, for vehicles in 2024. Despite the stricter criteria, 91 models managed to meet the thresholds for either recognition, with 38 models achieving the highest accolade, Top Safety Pick+. This shows an increase from the previous year, 2023, when 65 models received an IIHS award after the institute had similarly raised the bar for its safety honors.

The subsequent electric cars were awarded the TSP+ designation:

Several models were recognized with the secondary Top Safety Pick accolade, which comprises the following:

Model Y from Tesla, slated for release in 2024. – With acknowledgments to Tesla

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rolled out a more stringent side impact test for vehicles starting in 2023, involving a bulkier obstacle hitting the vehicle at increased velocity. Previously, vehicles could achieve the Top Safety Pick honor with either an "Acceptable" or "Good" rating in the test, but beginning in 2024, only those securing the highest rating of "Good" will be eligible for the accolade.

Automobiles must secure either an "Acceptable" or "Good" score in the revised 2024 pedestrian front-crash prevention evaluation. This assessment now includes both day and night situations, which used to be graded individually.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has unveiled a revised version of the moderate front-overlap assessment slated for implementation in 2024. This new evaluation will include an additional test dummy positioned behind the driver, with an enhanced focus on the safety of backseat passengers. To attain the highest honor of Top Safety Pick+, vehicles must secure either an "Acceptable" or "Good" result in this test. Previously, a "Good" rating on the former test was sufficient to earn the Top Safety Pick accolade.

Similar to previous criteria, cars required a "Good" rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) small-overlap frontal collision assessments and headlights rated as "Good" or "Acceptable" across all versions to be eligible for either accolade.

Discussions surrounding electric vehicle (EV) safety have been prevalent, focusing on aspects other than collision outcomes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) highlighted in the previous year that fire hazards are not the main issue with EV safety, but rather the concern lies with the vehicles' heaviness. Supporting this notion, a new research indicated that the weight of EVs could potentially surpass the resistance capacity of guardrails on American highways.

In recent discussions, the chief executive of the automotive conglomerate Stellantis suggested that the rapid acceleration capabilities of electric vehicles might be considered a safety feature, a point which is open to argument. However, it's unlikely that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) will take this

Categories:

Participate:

Readers of this article typically enjoyed:

Distribute This Piece:

Engage with the author:

Stay Updated:

Eco-Friendly Vehicle Digest

Subscribe for daily updates on the newest eco-friendly vehicles and environmental developments straight to your email!

I consent to getting emails from Green Car Reports and acknowledge that I have the option to opt out at any moment. Privacy Policy.

GM and Hyundai are teaming up which might result in cost savings for eco-friendly tech advancements.

Jaguar made a bold leap into the electric vehicle market with its I-Pace model but then seemed to lose momentum in its shift towards electric vehicles.

A current collaboration with Mercedes could lead to significant improvements in electric vehicle range without increasing the overall weight.

Lucid has offered a sneak peek at its upcoming midsize crossover SUV, emphasizing its commitment to both efficiency and advanced technology.

The head of Lucid has shifted his perspective on the idea of an electric pickup truck, and currently doesn't believe there's a viable market for it given the current state of technology.

The initial models of the Lucid Gravity SUV will come equipped with a CCS charging port, with plans to switch to a NACS port in 2025.

The launch of the Jeep Wagoneer S hasn't experienced any hold-ups so far. However, the CEO of the car manufacturer has indicated that the quality of the pre-production models does not meet their standards.

Panasonic has announced that it has successfully streamlined the production of its larger 4680 battery cells.

There's a possible problem with the Volkswagen ID.4 where the door handles may not be watertight.

The European Union could potentially lower import duties on electric vehicles from select manufacturers abroad.

The firm has halted the manufacturing of cathode active materials in Sweden and is taking steps to reduce expenses, which will likely result in layoffs.

Associated Content

Top Picks

Image Gallery

Current Events

Press

Retail Partners

Feed

Corporate

Connect With Us Now: