7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s stiffer than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front suck and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enlargened horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series resumes to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Beginning list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its convenient interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling petite SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and convenient rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legal,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its convenient and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrical vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s comfy rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrified engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the budge.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, comfy rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as convenient and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy resumes its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The thicker version of this hybrid Prius also proceeds to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s tighter than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front suck and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enhanced horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series resumes to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Embarking list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its comfy interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling puny SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and convenient rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Eighteen,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its comfy and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrical vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s comfy rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrical engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the budge.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, comfy rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as comfy and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The fatter version of this hybrid Prius also resumes to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the stir.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comebacks to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, comfy rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as comfy and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The thicker version of this hybrid Prius also proceeds to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s tighter than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

President could hike prices at the pump; Apple is swimming in cash; and avocado prices are shooting up. These headlines and more from CBS MoneyWa.

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front suck and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enhanced horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series proceeds to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Beginning list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its comfy interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling petite SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and convenient rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legal,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its comfy and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrified vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s convenient rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrical engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the stir.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, convenient rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra resumes as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as convenient and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The fatter version of this hybrid Prius also proceeds to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s firmer than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front suck and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enlargened horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series proceeds to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Commencing list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its comfy interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling petite SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and convenient rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legitimate,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its convenient and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrical vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s comfy rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrified engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the budge.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, convenient rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as comfy and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The fatter version of this hybrid Prius also resumes to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one puny SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the stir.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comebacks to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, convenient rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra resumes as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as comfy and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The thicker version of this hybrid Prius also proceeds to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s tighter than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front gargle and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enlargened horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series proceeds to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Embarking list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its comfy interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling petite SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and convenient rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legitimate,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its convenient and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrified vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s comfy rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrified engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one puny SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the stir.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, comfy rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as convenient and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy resumes its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The fatter version of this hybrid Prius also resumes to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Auto regulator investigates reports of "roll-away" Chrysler, Dodge models; hedge fund execs face $1B fraud charges; and Fed chief sees strong job.

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one puny SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as puny as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the utter list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the budge.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, convenient rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra resumes as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as convenient and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The fatter version of this hybrid Prius also proceeds to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s tighter than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

President could hike prices at the pump; Apple is swimming in cash; and avocado prices are shooting up. These headlines and more from CBS MoneyWa.

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front deepthroat and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enlargened horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series resumes to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Kicking off list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its comfy interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling puny SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This petite sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and comfy rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legal,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its comfy and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrical vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s convenient rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrical engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as petite as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the budge.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, comfy rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as comfy and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy resumes its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The thicker version of this hybrid Prius also resumes to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s stiffer than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front deep-throat and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enhanced horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series proceeds to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Kicking off list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its convenient interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling petite SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and comfy rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legal,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its convenient and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrical vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s convenient rail and slick transition inbetween gas and electrical engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

The bar keeps getting raised for cars to score in the top category of safety. Now, in addition to crash protection, cars must have effective headlights to get the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Driving down a winding road at night, the power of your headlights may determine if you see a pedestrian or an oncoming car and are thus able to avoid an accident. That’s why the IIHS is also weighing the effectiveness of headlights when assigning its top auto safety rating.

Auto watchdog probes "roll-away" vehicles, and other MoneyWatch headlines

It began testing headlights this year after determining that federal standards for headlights are set in laboratory tests and don’t reflect real-world driving conditions. In one of the initial IIHS tests, seventeen of twenty one petite SUVs were rated as having ineffective headlights.

For this year’s ratings of two thousand seventeen models, vehicles that got the best rating — Top Safety Pick Plus — had to have good or acceptable ratings on their headlights in addition to the previous criteria of scoring well in front, side and rollover crash tests. Since last year, top-rated cars also must have a good or acceptable automatic braking technology to avoid front-end crashes.

The fresh headlight requirement diminished the number of Top Safety Pick Plus winners from forty eight last year to thirty eight this time. "The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well," said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. "But the field is not as petite as we expected. Manufacturers are focusing on improving this basic safety equipment."

The second-level rating, Top Safety Pick (without the Plus), goes to cars that meet all the standards except for good or acceptable headlights. In some cases, the rating applies only to the version of the car with optional safety equipment (here’s the total list of forty four Top Safety Pick and thirty eight Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles).

Of this year’s Top Safety Pick Plus winners, only seven vehicles got good ratings for their headlights. IIHS points out that price is no indicator of headlight quality. The only luxury vehicle with good headlight ratings is a Volvo SUV.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

This plug-in hybrid maintains its top rating from last year, with the headlights measuring up to its crash test results. The Volt has an advantage over all-electric cars because it has a gasoline engine that works to recharge the battery on the budge.

This eliminates so-called range anxiety because the Volt can do fifty three all-electric miles and three hundred sixty seven miles combined with the gasoline engine. The Volt is rated for forty three MPG in city driving and forty two on the highway. List prices run from $33,220 to $37,670.

Honda Ridgeline

The two thousand seventeen Ridgeline pickup comes back to the Honda lineup after a two-year absence. And Honda engineers clearly got the crash protection and headlights right.

Ridgeline ranks No. One among compact pickup trucks, according to reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. Test drivers praise its pleasing interior, convenient rail and tech features. The front-wheel drive Ridgeline is rated for nineteen MPG in the city, twenty six on the highway. List prices range from $29,745 to $42,870.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra proceeds as a Top Safety Plus pick even with the headlight ranking included. Test drivers praise the Elantra as convenient and roomy for a compact car with a good array of technology.

The Elantra is a good combination of reasonable price and good fuel economy. List prices range from $17,150 to $22,350. The base four-cylinder engine is rated for twenty six MPG in city driving and thirty two on the highway.

Hyundai Santa Fe

With some redesign, the Santa Fe went from not even being on the list last year to among the top picks this year.

Test drivers say the Santa Fe is worth a look among midsize SUVs with three rows of seats. They praise the spectacle of the standard V-6 engine, which is rated for seventeen MPG in city driving, twenty one on the highway.

List prices run from $25,350 to $41,150.

Subaru Legacy

The Legacy proceeds its top rating from the two thousand sixteen model. The Legacy midsize sedan combines this high safety rating with standard all-wheel drive and good fuel economy. Its standard four-cylinder engine is ranked at twenty five MPG city, thirty four highway. However, test drivers find the legacy a little underpowered with this engine. List price runs from$31,195 to $31,460.

Toyota Prius V

The fatter version of this hybrid Prius also resumes to hold a top rating along with top fuel economy.

Its roomy cargo area is a plus for shoppers who want a gas-electric hybrid. That power plant is rated for forty three city thirty nine highway. However, test drivers fault its sluggish acceleration. List prices run from $26,675 to $30,935.

Volvo XC60

Volvo has always had a strong reputation for safety, and this has continued under its current Chinese ownership. Its feature that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes has raised its score in past years, and excellent headlights helped get top rating for the XC60.

Test drivers praise its powerful engines with good fuel economy. Its base engine is rated for nineteen MPG city, twenty three highway. List prices on this luxury SUV ranges from $40,950 to $51,000.

7 of the safest cars on the road – CBS News

7 of the safest cars on the road

It’s firmer than it used to be to get a top vehicle safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to a top rating in traditional crash tests, the "top safety pick plus" rating now requires collision-avoidance technology and well-rated headlights.

Trump talks gas tax hikes, and other MoneyWatch headlines

As fresh active safety technology like front crash prevention has become available, the IIHS has tested these systems and added them to the requirements for the top rating. More recently, to concentrate on the dangers of substandard headlights, superior spectacle in this category has been added to the necessary hurdles.

The seven vehicles announced so far in two thousand seventeen as "top safety picks plus" include two SUVs, two mainstream sedans and three luxury sedans. Vehicles that do well in the crash tests for front, side, glancing front gargle and rollover but don’t earn adequate crash prevention or headlight ratings get the next rank — "top safety pick" without the "plus." Numerous other two thousand seventeen models earned the "top safety pick plus" ratings but already were announced last year.

Let’s have a closer look at the seven "top safety picks plus" announced this year. The advanced safety features and certain headlights are optional on most of these models, and the "top safety pick plus" ratings apply only to models with all that equipment.

Audi A3

Audi has been known as a technology leader, and its front crash-prevention system gets a maximum "superior" rating. Test drivers praise the A3 for its interior technology in the instrument display and infotainment system. They also like the sporty treating and upbeat acceleration.

List prices for this luxury model range from $31,200 to $42,900.

BMW two Series

This entry-level BMW gets a stronger rating for headlights than competitor Audi A3 but a slightly lower advanced ranking on its front crash prevention. But the combination still adds up to a "top safety pick plus."

Enhanced horsepower and improved exterior styling are featured in the two thousand seventeen model. Like most BMWs, the two Series gets good marks for nimble treating and swift acceleration. Unlike some competitors, it has ample trunk space. List prices for the two series run from $33,150 to $52,500.

BMW three Series

Like its smaller sibling two Series, the three Series gets an advanced rating on its optional front crash prevention system. Long the signature model for BMW in this country, the three Series proceeds to feature upbeat acceleration, nimble treating and all-around joy driving. Test drivers also praise it for its spacious cabin and intuitive infotainment system.

Kicking off list price for the three Series of $33,450 is close to the two Series, but it ranges all the way to $64,000 for loaded versions.

Honda CR-V

Not only does the CR-V get a top safety rating, it’s also the No. 1-rated compact SUV among reviewers surveyed by U.S. News. These test drivers praise the CR-V for its convenient interior with ample legroom and slew of cargo space.

Shoppers seem to agree, since the CR-V is regularly one of the best-selling petite SUVs. List prices range from $24,065 to $33,695.

Subaru Impreza

This puny sedan gets top IIHS grades all around — crash tests plus collision avoidance and headlights. Fully redesigned for 2017, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive, as do all Subaru models. Test drivers praise the Impreza for its roomy interior and convenient rail.

The least-expensive car on this safe cars list, Impreza prices range from $Legitimate,395 to $24,595.

Toyota Highlander

This midsize SUV gets a top "superior" rating for its collision-avoidance system and second-best "acceptable" for its headlights. Unlike many competitors, Highlander’s advanced safety systems come as standard equipment.

Test drivers praise the three-row Highlander for its convenient and quiet rail on the highway. Highlander prices range from $30,630 to $46,260.

Toyota Prius Prime

Like the Highlander, the Prius Prime gets the very best rating for its crash avoidance and second-best for its headlights. Fresh for 2017, this plug-in hybrid, of course, gets terrific fuel mileage. The EPA ranks the Prime at one hundred thirty three MPGe — the gas mileage equivalent for electrical vehicles. The gas engine alone gets a fifty four MPG rating for combined city-highway driving.

Test drivers praise the Prius Prime’s convenient rail and sleek transition inbetween gas and electrified engines. List prices run from $27,100 to $33,100.

Related movie: