Crash testing to get harder in the future, says IIHS

All trim levels of the vehicle need to receive acceptable or good ratings to be eligible for the award.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has outlined the changes in criteria for 2024, while also announcing the changes it plans to make for 2025.

For vehicles trying to earn the Top Safety Pick (TSP) & Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) awards, the tests will now be harder than the previous year. From 2024, a good rating in the side crash test with a heavier barrier is now necessary from the IIHS for a vehicle to get the awards. Previously, IIHS had separate evaluations for day & night pedestrian front crash prevention. This year, however, the tests will be combined into one and run both conditions - this prevents a vehicle from excelling in just one of the two tests and gain an award. The vehicle will have to score either an acceptable or good rating in both conditions to be eligible for the award.

For 2024, IIHS has also revised the scoring system for its small overlap front crash test. As per the updates, both driver and passenger-side evaluations are now clubbed as a single category, and the rating is the lower of the two results. Also, all trim levels of the vehicle need to receive acceptable or good ratings to be eligible for the award.

The organisation also went on to confirm that the crash tests are going to be even tougher in 2025. Joe Young, IIHS Spokesperson, said, "We will raise the bar again with more challenging criteria for 2025 Top Safety Picks, though the updates will be more modest." He further added, "The changes will relate to our updated moderate overlap crash test. A good or acceptable rating in that test is one requirement for the 2024 Top Safety Pick+ award. In 2025, the "plus" award will require a good rating, while the regular Top Safety Pick will require an acceptable rating."

Source: IIHS