Latest news with #DavidHarkey
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 36 safest cars you can buy right now, according to experts
When buying a new vehicle, safety is paramount. But how can you be sure that shiny new car isn't just a hunk of junk? That's where the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) steps in. The group just released its latest annual safety awards for dozens of vehicles, each of which has been tested across a series of tests. Just 48 models qualified for the IIHS' awards as of March 13, down from 71 models last year. Thirty-six of those vehicles won the nonprofit's highest designation — Top Safety Pick+ — while the remaining 12 were named a Top Safety Pick. Most of the selected models were SUVs; just two large pickups and a little more than a handful of small and midsize cars also won awards. That's likely because the IIHS' updated tests emphasize back seat protection, according to the group. 'We're once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,' IIHS President David Harkey said in a statement. 'Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row,' he added. These are some of the safest vehicles currently on the market, according to the IIHS' ratings. The Honda (HMC) Civic hatchback, Accord midsize car, and HR-V SUV received the highest designation from the IIHS, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The Accord was only docked points when tested for how well it could detect adult pedestrians at night. It failed to give any warning before hitting a test dummy when being driven at 37 miles per hour, at night, and with low beam headlights on. The Civic hatchback had similar issues, but was also hit for quiet alerts when a seat belt wasn't being used or was disengaged. The HR-V was docked points for headlights that are not curve-adaptive and that create some glare when using low beams, a difficult-to-find child seat tether anchor, and its performance on vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. Two other models, the Civic sedan and Pilot SUV, were given the lesser Top Safety Pick award. Acura's Integra hatchback and MXD luxury SUV were also given those designations. Mazda (MZDAY) went home with the most Top Safety Pick+ awards — eight. One model, the CX-30 SUV, had perfect marks, according to the IIHS. 'Kudos to Mazda for meeting this challenge with eight Top Safety Pick+ winners, the most of any brand,' Harkey, the IIHS president, said in a statement. Six models — the CX-70 SUV and its plug-in hybrid variant, the CX-90 SUV and its plug-in hybrid variant, the 3 sedan, and the 3 hatchback — were dinged for less-than stellar headlights. However, that varied by trim for all but the plug-in hybrid models. The CX-50 SUV also had headlight issues and lost points over front crash prevention exams. When a motorcycle was in front of the CX-50, it failed to provide a timely warning in all but one of the tests. It also failed to deliver a timely warning in one test conducted with a semitrailer. 'Mazda's dedication to keeping our customers and their passengers safe in the pursuit of eliminating traffic fatalities is evidenced in these latest awards from IIHS,' Tom Donnelly, the CEO of Mazda's North America division, said in a statement. Mercedes-Benz's (MBGYY) C-Class midsize car, GLC luxury SUV, and GLE-Class SUV with optional front crash prevention were all named Top Safety Pick+ models. The C-Class model got docked points for its headlights — which had some limitations at lower tiers — and was too slow to react to an adult pedestrian at night. The GLC and GLE SUVs had similar issues reacting to pedestrians, but their headlights performed better than the C-Class'. Toyota's (TM) Camry midsize car and Tundra pickup truck also received Top Safety Pick+ awards. The Camry was docked points for its low beam headlights, which delivered only fair visibility on straight roads, as well as inadequate visibility when curving left, the IIHS said. The high-beams compensate for some of the low beams' limitations, the group added. The Tundra — one of just two pickups included in the IIHS' top rankings — was docked points for how quickly it reduced speed when encountering an adult pedestrian at night, along with difficult-to-find child seat tethers. The IIHS also noted that the low beam headlights included in a few trims created some glare. Genesis (HYMTF) — the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Group, which also owns the Hyundai and Kia name brands — had four SUVs receive Top Safety Pick+ designations. That includes the GV60, GV80, and the electrified GV70. The gasoline-powered GV70 also was recognized, but only for units built after April 2024. The GV60 and GV80 both lost points over backseat tether anchors for child seats that were too deep in the seat, according to the IIHS. Both GV70 variants were docked points for crash prevention systems that failed to provide quick enough warnings for the vehicle to avoid hitting an adult pedestrian at night. Hyundai had five vehicles notch Top Safety Pick+ awards from the IIHS. That includes the electric Ioniq 5 midsize car and Ioniq 6 SUV, Kona SUV, and the Tucson SUV. Santa Fe SUVs built after November 2024 were also given that distinction. The Tucson was docked points for child seat anchors buried too deeply in the rear seats and a forward collision avoidance software that failed to provide a timely warning in most tests. Headlights on some trims were also given a lower score because they aren't curve-adaptive. Likewise, the Ioniq 6, Kona, and Santa Fe lost points because of their headlights and child seat anchors. The Ioniq 5 shared the child seat anchor issues and had glaring low beam headlights on some trims. Forward collision avoidance software equipped to Ioniq 5 SE and SEL models also failed to deliver timely warnings when encountering an adult pedestrian at night. Kia's Telluride SUV and EV9 all-electric SUV both received the IIHS' Top Safety Pick+ award. They both got top marks on the group's tests. 'IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards reinforce our dedication to building vehicles that not only perform but also provide peace of mind,' Kia America COO Steven Center said in a statement. Subaru's (FUJHY) Solterra all-electric SUV was its only vehicle to be awarded the IIHS's top safety award for 2025. The Solterra, which was co-developed with Toyota (which sells the mostly identical bz4x), is the brand's first electric car. It scored top marks on all of the IIHS's tests. Two other Subaru models, the 2025 Ascent and Forester, were given the Top Safety Pick award. Both lost points for potential injuries to rear passengers during a crash involving two vehicles driving in opposite directions at just under 40 miles per hour. 'It's an honor for Solterra, Ascent and Forester to be recognized by IIHS' new, increasingly rigorous testing for both driver safety and passenger safety,' Jeff Walters, the president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America, said in a statement. Ford's (F) Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, which grew more popular last year, was the Detroit automaker's only vehicle included in the IIHS' rankings, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ designation. The model scored top marks when tested for crashworthiness, crash avoidance, and crash mitigation, but was docked some points for its child seat attachments. The IIHS said that tether anchors could be confused for other hardware. Ford is also being sued over the Mustang Mach-E's electric latches, which replaced the typical door handles most vehicles have. Lincoln, Ford's luxury division, saw its popular Nautilus midsize SUV receive the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. It scored top marks across all categories tested. Audi (VWAGY), the luxury brand owned by Volkswagen Group, won a Top Safety Pick+ award for its Q7 SUV. The model performed well during the IIHS' crashworthiness tests, but had middling results during crash avoidance and mitigation exams. The $77,900 Prestige trim's headlights performed well when tested. However, the headlights used by the $60,500 and $64,300 Premium and Premium Plus trims were found to have glaring low beams and weren't curve-adaptive. The Q7 also failed to deliver a timely warning when it was too close to a motorcycle driving ahead of it. But the IIHS said it did not test the SUV's automatic brakes. It was also docked points for how well it detected an adult pedestrian at night. BMW's X5 midsize luxury SUV was given a Top Safety Pick+, scoring top marks on all but one category tested. The model's low beam headlights created 'some glare,' the IIHS said. Electric truck maker Rivian (RIVN) had two of its models receive awards from the IIHS, the R1T pickup and the R1S SUV. The RIS was given the Top Safety Pick+ designation, achieving top marks in all but one category, according to the IIHS' ratings. The group had an issue with the SUV's headlights, stating that its low beams created 'some glare.' The IIHS also notes that its award only applies to units made after last August. In early 2024, the company retooled its manufacturing process to cut more than 50 parts from the design of its vehicles, 52 pieces from the body shop, and more than 100 steps from the battery-making process, CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters. The R1T was awarded the Top Safety Pick designation, achieving top scores on all but two categories. Like the R1S, the R1T lost points for its headlights. It also had a poorer score during a crash test. Infiniti's (NSANY) QX80 SUV was named a Top Safety Pick+, while its QX60 luxury SUV was given a Top Safety Pick rating. The QX80 scored top marks on the IIHS' tests. The QX60 also scored highly, but was docked points during a moderate overlap front test. The model scored an 'acceptable,' the second-to-best rating, for potential injuries to a rear passenger during a head-on crash. Volvo Cars (GELYF), the Swedish brand owned by Chinese giant Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, had two cars receive the IIHS' awards, although it only applies to vehicles made before December 2024. The XC90 midsize luxury SUV was given the Top Safety Pick+ award, while its plug-in hybrid counterpart was named a Top Safety Pick. The XC90 performed well during a crash, but scored poorly in the IIHS' categories under crash avoidance and mitigation. It was docked points for low beam headlight performance, along with how well its forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking systems performed in the presence of a motorcycle, children, and adults. The IIHS also docked the model for its poor tether anchors for child seats. Nissan's Pathfinder was the only model from the Japanese automaker to receive a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The midsize SUV performed well in all areas tested except its headlights. The IIHS said visibility was only fair when using low-beams and high-beams on curved roads. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Safest Cars, Trucks And SUVs You Can Buy In 2025, According To The IIHS
When you're buying a new car, reliability and fuel efficiency are important, but ultimately nothing is more important than safety. If your car won't start you'll lose time and money, but a crash in an unsafe car could mean losing a loved one or even your own life. And while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does its own crash testing, the gold standard for vehicle safety is actually the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. It also makes sense when you think about it, as keeping drivers safe in a crash also means insurance companies spend less money. The IIHS also regularly raises its standards, which means that while 71 vehicles were eligible for awards last year, only 48 qualified this year. Of those 48, though, 36 earned the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award. "We're once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago," IIHS President David Harkey said in a statement. "Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row." So which cars, trucks and SUVs made the cut? Let's take a look. Read more: Subaru Had It Right All Along The safest small cars you can buy in 2025 are: Honda Civic hatchback Mazda 3 hatchback Mazda 3 sedan The safest midsize cars you can buy in 2025 are: Honda Accord Hyundai Ioniq 6 Toyota Camry The safest midsize luxury car you can buy in 2025 is (yes, sadly, there's only one): Mercedes-Benz C-Class The safest small SUVs you can buy in 2025 are: Genesis GV60 Honda HR-V Hyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai Kona Hyundai Tucson Mazda CX-30 Mazda CX-50 Subaru Solterra The safest midsize SUVs you can buy in 2025 are: Ford Mustang Mach-E Hyundai Santa Fe (if built after November 2024) Kia EV9 Kia Telluride Mazda CX-70 (including the plug-in hybrid) Mazda CX-90 (including the plug-in hybrid) Nissan Pathfinder The safest midsize luxury SUVs you can buy in 2025 are: BMW X5 Genesis Electrified GV70 Genesis GV70 (if built after April 2024) Genesis GV80 Lincoln Nautilus Mercedes-Benz GLC Mercedes-Benz GLE (with optional front crash prevention) Volvo XC90 (if built before December 2024) The safest large SUVs you can buy in 2025 are: Audi Q7 Infiniti QX80 Rivian R1S (if built after August 2024) The safest pickup truck you can buy is (yes, sadly, there's only one): Toyota Tundra crew cab Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
48 Safest Cars in America According to the IIHS
IIHS just picked the safest cars sold in America. Only 48 made the list. Higher standards addressing rear-seat safety meant fewer winners for 2025. Safe vehicles abide across the spectrum of cars, trucks, and SUVs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has once again picked its safest cars. Is your car on it? The tests were tougher this year, including crash test dummies in the back seats. The Institute's updated moderate overlap front test adds a second crash test dummy seated behind the driver and emphasizes back seat safety, IIHS said. Last year, an 'acceptable' or 'good' rating in the updated test was a requirement for the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award. However, a 'good' rating in the original test was still enough to earn the base award. 'This year, vehicles must earn an 'acceptable' rating in the updated test to qualify for Top Safety Pick, while a 'good' rating is required for the 'plus,'' the Institute said. The front overlap test smacks the vehicle headlong into a fixed barrier right on the left front headlight. The side impact test sees a heavy sled carom into the right side B-pillar. It's gruesome, but necessary for safety advancement. In addition, an 'acceptable' or 'good' rating is also required in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation, which gauges performance in both daytime and nighttime conditions. Pedestrian detection requires numerous sensors. (IIHS was founded and is funded by insurance companies. Optimists will say it makes us all safer. Pessimists have been known to snipe that insurance companies just don't want to pay out so many premiums. Take your pick.) 'We're once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,' IIHS President David Harkey said. 'Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row.' This year 48 vehicles are on the list, compared to 71 from 2024. Here are the new winners: Small Cars: Honda Civic hatchback, Mazda 3 hatchback, Mazda 3 sedan Midsize Cars: Honda Accord, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Toyota Camry Midsize Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Small SUVs: Genesis GV60, Hyundai Tucson, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mazda CX-50, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Solterra Midsize SUVs: Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Santa Fe (built after November 2024), Kia EV9, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-70 PHEV, Mazda CX-90, Mazda CX-9 PHEV, Nissan Pathfinder Midsize Luxury SUVs: BMW X5, Genesis Electrified GV70, Genesis GV70 (built after April 2024), Genesis GV80, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with optional front crash prevention, Volvo XC90 (built before December 2024) Large SUVs: Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, Rivian R1S built after August 2024 Large Pickup: Toyota Tundra crew cab Small Cars: Acura Integra hatchback, Honda Civic sedan Large Luxury Car: Genesis G90 Small SUVs: Subaru Forester (excludes Wilderness trim) Midsize SUVs: Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent Midsize Luxury SUVs: Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60, Lexus NX, Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid (built before December 2024) Large Pickup: Rivian R1T
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Two Rivian models awarded 2025 Top Safety Pick
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Two Rivian cars are being recognized as some of the safest in the country. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the electric vehicle maker two top safety picks. The 2025 Rivian R1S was among the winners for the top safety pick plus for the large SUV category. The 2025 R1T crew cab pickup won the top safety pick for the large pickup truck category. IIHS President David Harkey said one of the biggest qualifications is backseat passenger safety. 'We just feel like this is an opportunity now to see if we can get the automakers to focus on improving safety in the vehicle's rear seat. It's often where we carry our most vulnerable passengers. And so we want to make sure that that rear seat is as safe. Just an opportunity to look at how we're protecting passengers in all positions in the vehicle. And that's what we're emphasizing this year,' said Harkey. You can see a full list of the 2025 Top Safety Picks over on the website of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mazda Leads Industry in IIHS 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ Awards: Moves Closer to Goal of Eliminating Traffic Fatalities
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced the winners of its 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards and Mazda is proud to receive eight TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards, more of the absolute highest award in vehicle safety than any other brand. The awarded vehicles include the 2025 model year Mazda3 Sedan, Mazda3 Hatchback, CX-30, CX-50 including CX-50 Hybrid, CX-70, CX-70 PHEV, CX-90 and CX-90 PHEV. To earn these esteemed awards, vehicles must achieve top ratings in IIHS's front and side crash tests, pedestrian front crash prevention assessments and come with standard acceptable- or good-rated headlights. With each year IIHS strengthens the award criteria, making the 2025 awards program the toughest yet. "The success of our awards program depends on automakers' commitment to safety," IIHS President David Harkey said. "Kudos to Mazda for meeting this challenge with eight TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners, the most of any brand." Mazda has risen to the top through outstanding performance in IIHS's newest crash test that requires heightened rear seat occupant protection, with all tested models earning a top, Good rating. It was accomplished through the addition of rear seat belt pretensioners and load limiters and advanced airbags to our already robust structures, which Mazda proudly offers as standard equipment across all models. For Mazda, making safer cars is about more than just protecting the people riding in them. In our approach to advanced crash avoidance technologies, Mazda has also ensured that our crash avoidance systems are tuned to consider pedestrians in a variety of lighting conditions. "Mazda's dedication to keeping our customers and their passengers safe in the pursuit of eliminating traffic fatalities is evidenced in these latest awards from IIHS," said MNAO President and CEO Tom Donnelly. "We deeply appreciate IIHS continually challenging the industry with ever moving targets with their rigorous crash testing that reflect real-world crash scenarios." To learn more about advanced safety at Mazda, please visit the website - The IIHS is an independent, non-governmental safety-testing organization, funded by the insurance industry. For more information, visit About Mazda North American OperationsProudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at Follow @MazdaUSA on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
