Minivans like the Toyota Sienna are still cruising around. That’s because they’re reasonably priced, roomy, versatile, and safe. For families on road trips or day-to-day commutes, minivans get the job done. Though most of these family haulers have ceded to SUVs, three 2022 minivans recently won coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards.
But only one aced every test. Let’s look at the results.
2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winners
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) began awarding Top Safety Pick awards in 2006. In 2013, the nonprofit organization added Top Safety Pick+ for vehicles that go above and beyond in safety. The 2022 award winners are out now. Recipients are vehicles that were top performers in the agency’s rigorous crash testing and safety evaluations.
The IIHS exists to reduce death, bodily injury, and damage to property from vehicle crashes. It accomplishes this through evaluation and research. It also seeks to educate consumers, policymakers, and safety professionals in the automotive industry.
The IIHS conducts tests in various vehicle categories. Because car safety standards evolve over time, so do the IIHS’ criteria used in testing. Thus, you can’t really compare the safety ratings of one model year of a vehicle to the ratings of a different model year.
For example, in 2023, the testing will become more rigorous, the IIHS says. All vehicles next year must earn the highest rating of “good” in the difficult side-impact test to earn the highest Top Safety Pick+ award. The test is a simulation of a high-speed collision with a larger vehicle such as a truck or SUV. In the 2023 test, the crash sled will weigh 880 pounds more than what the IIHS uses this year. In addition, the simulation speed will increase from 31 to 37 mph.
To win the Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must score at least a good rating across the board. It also must earn a front crash prevention rating of advanced or superior in vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. To earn the TSP award (without the plus sign), the vehicle must get a good rating in all the crash tests, including the passenger-side small overlap front test.
The following three 2022 minivans recently won awards Top Safety Pick+ awards.
The 2022 Toyota Sienna is the safest minivan, according to the IIHS
With terrific gas mileage, a comfortable ride, and plenty of space, the 2022 Toyota Sienna has plenty to offer. This minivan provides an impressive array of standard features and copious passenger space. Still, it ranks behind its rivals because it doesn’t have a competitive amount of cargo space and underwhelming power output, U.S. News says.
Still, the IIHS awarded the 2022 Toyota Sienna Top Safety Pick+ because the minivan earned good ratings in all six crash tests. Plus, the headlights earned good ratings. In collision avoidance, the Sienna scored a superior rating for its vehicle-to-vehicle crash test and an advanced rating for its vehicle-to-pedestrian system.
Though the other two minivans that won the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award — the 2022 Honda Odyssey and the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica — both earned superior ratings on both collision avoidance tests, they received only an acceptable rating for their headlights. The 2022 Toyota Sienna aced all the tests, including a good rating for its headlights.
But the 2022 Honda Odyssey is no slouch
The 2022 Honda Odyssey is a contender in the minivan class because it offers a nice balance of comfort and engaging performance, U.S. News reports. It also offers a pleasant, upscale interior with plenty of room for everyone.
The 2022 Odyssey earned Top Safety Pick+ by scoring good ratings in all six crash tests. As for its headlights, the minivan got the second-highest rating, acceptable, for its ability to provide good visibility in various conditions. The IIHS gave its highest rating, superior, to the Odyssey for its standard front crash prevention systems.
The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, too, is a safe minivan
Another well-ranked minivan, the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica provides an impressive range of standard features. There’s plenty of cargo and passenger space too. The ride is composed, and its V6 engine gets good gas mileage. However, the Pacifica doesn’t have the best predicted reliability, according to U.S. News.
But the latest Pacifica won the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ because it earned the highest rating, good, in all six crash tests. It got an acceptable rating for its headlights and a superior rating on both crash prevention tests.
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