Best Crash Test Ratings for 2015 Model New Cars
Each year hundreds of crash tests are performed on new vehicles to determine how well they protect the driver and passengers in a crash. Suppose safety is essential to you. This is excellent information to know when shopping for a new car.
These tests now include rating a vehicle’s front crash prevention systems. These high-tech safety systems automatically warn the driver of the car by audio or visual stimulation and brake to avoid or soften a front-end collision.
Who Conducts Crash Tests on New Vehicles?
Every time a new vehicle or year model is introduced to the market, it is crash tested, and only the best and highest rated vehicles receive awards.
The International Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts crash tests to determine how well a vehicle will protect its occupants if involved in a collision. You can read more detail on how the IIHS rates a car during a collision and how they perform their controlled crash tests here.
The vehicles with the best test results receive the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick + award.
How to Get the IIHS 2015 Top Safety Pick
To be awarded the 2015 Top Safety Pick, the vehicle tested must get good or acceptable ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap side, front, head restraint, and roof-strength tests.
To qualify for the 2015 Top-Rated Safety Pick +, the vehicle must meet all the above criteria plus receive a superior or advanced rating for its front crash prevention system. The only way for a car to receive this award is to be equipped with this other technology. If the vehicle is not provided, it may still qualify for the Top Safety Pick award.
NOTE: Vehicles that are larger and heavier in weight do influence the protection of the occupants inside the vehicle in a severe or high-speed crash. So, generally speaking, a heavier, larger vehicle will provide more protection than a lighter, smaller car.
So, a smaller vehicle awarded a Top Safety Pick, or PLUS award does not automatically mean it offers more or better protection than a bigger vehicle that didn’t earn an award.
If you’re considering the purchase of a new car or truck, safety is essential to you. Look at the award-winning 2015 model new cars with the best crash test ratings below to help in your research before making a final decision.
2015 Mini Car Award Winners
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Cars |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Chevrolet Spark |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Honda Spark |
Best 2015 Small Car Crash Test Award Winners
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Car |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Chevrolet Sonic (Vehicles built after Feb 2015 |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Chevrolet Volt |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Dodge Dart |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Ford C-Max Hybrid |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Ford Focus |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Honda Civic 2 Door Coupe |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Honda Civic 4 Door Sedan |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Hyundai Elantra (Only sedan models |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Kia Soul |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Lexus CT 200h (Vehicles built after Feb. 2014 with front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Mazda 3 (With front crash prevention 4 door hatchback | 4 door sedan) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Mini Cooper Countryman |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer (Ralliart and Evolution models do not apply) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Nissan Sentra |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Scion FR-S |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Scion tC |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Subaru BRZ |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Subaru Crosstrek |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Subaru Impreza |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Subaru WRZ |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Toyota Prius (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Volkswagen Golf (Only 4 door and Sportwagen models) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Volkswagen GTI (Only 4 door models) |
Crash Test Awards for 2015-2016 Midsize New Cars
| Award Category | 2015-2016 Model New Car |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Chevrolet Malibu |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Chrysler 200 (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Ford Fusion |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Honda Accord 2 Door Coup |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Honda Accord 4 Door Sedan |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Hyundai Sonata |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Kia Optima |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015-2016 Mazda 6 4 door Sedan (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Nissan Altima |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Subaru Legacy (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Subaru Outback (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Toyota Camry (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Toyota Prius v (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Volkswagen Jetta |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Volkswagen Passat |
Midsize Luxury and Near Luxury New Car Awards
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Vehicle |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Acura TLX (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Audi A3 (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 BMW 2 Series (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Infiniti Q50 (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Lincoln MKZ |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Volvo S60 |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Volvo V60 |
Large Family and Luxury Crash Test Awards
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Vehicle |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Toyota Avalon |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Acura RLX (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2016 Audi A6 (With optional front crash prevention, only vehicles built after Jan. 2015) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Hyundai Genesis (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Infiniti Q70 (With optional front crash prevention, V-8 4-wheel drive does not apply) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Lexus RC (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Mercedes E Class (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Volvo S80 |
2015-2016 Small SUVs Crash Test Awards
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Vehicle |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Buick Encore |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Chevrolet Trax |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Honda CR-V (With front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015-2016 Mazda CX-5 4 Door SUV (Both with front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander (With front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Nissan Rogue |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Subaru Forester (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Toyota RAV4 (Only vehicles built after Nov. 2014) |
2015 Midsize SUVs Crash Test Awards for 2015
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Vehicle |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Chevrolet Equinox |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Ford Flex |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 GMC Terrain |
| Top Safety Pick | 2016 Kia Sorento |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Nissan Murano (With front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Toyota Highlander (With front crash prevention) |
Crash Test Awards for 2015 Midsize Luxury SUVs
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Vehicle |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Acura MDX (With front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Audi Q5 (With front crash prevention, only vehicles built after Jan. 2015) |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Infiniti QX60 |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Lexus NX (With optional front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Mercedes M-Class (With front crash prevention) |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Volvo XC60 |
Crash Test Awards for 2015 Minivans
| Award Category | 2015 Model New Vehicle |
|---|---|
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Honda Odyssey |
| Top Safety Pick | 2015 Kia Sedona |
| Top Safety Pick PLUS | 2015 Toyota Sienna (With optional front crash prevention) |
In the Market for a New Car?
When negotiating the price of a new car or truck, it’s essential to know the dealer invoice price and what other people are paying for the exact vehicle in your local area. Otherwise, you won’t know what a reasonable price is to pay for the car.
I highly recommend using an online referral service such as Ryde Shopper and Motor Trend. Their quotes will automatically include any discounts or cash-back incentives currently available.
In addition, when doing your automobile shopping online, the above sites will tell you which dealerships in your local area are currently the most flexible with their new car pricing. These sites provide valuable information for anyone considering buying or leasing a new car or truck.
Suppose you’re not sure how to begin the new car buying process. Please take advantage of my new car buying cheat sheet for a step-by-step guide to buying a new car and avoiding car dealer scams.
About the author
My name is Carlton Wolf, and I’ve been in the car business since 1994, both retail and wholesale. I created the Auto Cheat Sheet to better educate buyers about the deceptive sales practices used by many dealerships throughout the country. Please understand that not all car dealers are dishonest. However, you never know who you’ll be dealing with, though. I’m willing to share my knowledge and experience with anyone who listens. Keep in mind that I’m a car guy, not a writer.
