Only 3 EVs Earned Top Safety Pick+ Awards in 2023
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ is the highest award the nonprofit research group issues annually. To earn the designation, a model must earn a “good” rating, the highest designation available, in several crash tests, must have either “acceptable” or “good” headlights, and either “advanced” or “superior” ratings for day and night vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention. For 2023, just three EVs earned the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ award.
1. 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70
The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 is an all-electric midsize SUV from the South Korean luxury automaker. In a boon for those who prioritize safety, the model has earned its second straight Top Safety Pick+ award.
The 2023 Electrified GV70 scored “good” in all crash categories – small overlap front for the driver and passenger side, moderate overlap front test, and IIHS’ updated side test. The SUV also earned the highest rating for its headlights and “advanced” scores for its day and night vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention. Additionally, the IIHS awarded the 2023 Electrified GV70 with its top rating for the ease of using the SUV’s LATCH system.
While the SUV earned “good” ratings overall in all crash categories, it did receive some “acceptable” scores in some testing subcategories. For instance, it earned an “acceptable” score for lower leg/foot injury for drivers due to “intrusion of the brake pedal and left instrument panel,” posing a “moderate” injury risk. Additionally, driver injury measures for the torso and pelvis were rated “acceptable.”
2. 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
A distant relative of the Electrified GV70 is the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which also falls under the banner of the Hyundai Motor Group. Like its corporate cousin, the 2023 Ioniq 6, an all-electric midsize sedan introduced for the 2023 model year, earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.
The Ioniq 6 EV earned a “good” overall rating in all crashworthiness categories. It earned the highest marks in all small overlap front driver-side tests. The structure and safety cage was rated “acceptable,” while all other small overlap front passenger side tests for the Ioniq 6 were rated “good.” The Ioniq 6 earned the highest marks in all updated side test categories, with the exception of driver torso injury measures, which were rated as “acceptable.”
The Ioniq 6 earned the top rating, “superior,” for its pedestrian crash prevention systems for both day and night. Its headlights and the ease of using its LATCH system anchors were rated “acceptable.”
3. 2023 Lexus RZ
Lexus has entered the all-electric market with its first EV, the 2023 RZ compact SUV. The RZ has made a strong debut in terms of safety by earning the IIHS’ top award.
The RZ earned “good” ratings overall in crash tests, though the IIHS does note an “acceptable” score for diver restraints and “dummy kinematics.” During testing, the crash test dummy’s head “contacted the frontal airbag but started to move to the left side because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso.” The RZ’s right leg/foot driver injury measures were also rated as “acceptable,” but the SUV scored the highest marks in all other crash subcategories.
The RZ’s pedestrian crash prevention systems were rated “superior” for both day and night, and its headlights ranked as “acceptable.”
The RZ’s child seat anchor systems were rated as “good+,” denoting the Lexus sports extra LATCH system hardware. This allows the LATCH system to be used across all three second-row seats (though not simultaneously).
