The number of vehicles earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's top awards in 2023 dropped compared with the previous year as the group called for better side crash protection and pedestrian crash prevention systems and toughened requirements for headlights.
Twenty-eight models received the Top Safety Pick+ award this year, compared with 65 models at this point in 2022. Another 20 models earned the Top Safety Pick designation, compared with 36 in 2022, according to a release.
"The number of winners is smaller this year because we're challenging automakers to build on the safety gains they've already achieved," IIHS President David Harkey said in a statement. "These models are true standouts in both crashworthiness and crash prevention."