[Lando]

Each year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) names an elite group of vehicles to its Top Safety Pick + list. These vehicles are the cream of the crop when it comes to occupant safety and accident avoidance.

To ensure that the listed vehicles continue to be industry leading each year, the standards for the Top Safety Pick + designation are made stricter each year. This year, vehicles must have a "good" rating in the small front overlap test. Last year, the additional requirement of automatic braking capability was added.

In addition to these requirements, each Top Safety Pick + vehicle must receive a "good" rating in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. A "good" or "acceptable" rating in the front crash prevention test is also required, which is gauged by the automatic braking system's performance when tested at 12 mph and 25 mph.

While further testing could admit more vehicles, the Top Safety Pick + list currently has 48 vehicles on it. Of those 48 vehicles there is just one minicar, and just one low-priced car that offers automatic braking standard. That car is the Scion iA.

At a price of $16,495, the Scion iA is the cheapest vehicle on the Top Safety Pick + list, and is also the only car in the minicar class. When it comes to safety at a more than reasonable price, the Scion iA has no rivals.

Questions? Comments? Do you agree?

 

[Moe]

That's quite impressive considering that compacts are known to be some of the most unsafe vehicles on the road. Just when I was content with everything the iA had to offer, this just adds to all those reasons for liking it.

All these perks should reflect in annual sales.

 

[Lando]

That's quite impressive considering that compacts are known to be some of the most unsafe vehicles on the road. Just when I was content with everything the iA had to offer, this just adds to all those reasons for liking it.

All these perks should reflect in annual sales.

Not sure about it contributing to sales. How much do you think safety plays into people's buying decision? More of a threshold than looking at which car is safest.

 

[Moe]

Not sure about it contributing to sales. How much do you think safety plays into people's buying decision? More of a threshold than looking at which car is safest.

With a compact car the concern is there more than bigger cars. Everyone knows your more vulnerable with a smaller car. It shouldn't impact sales by much since there are many other important areas to focus on.

 

[Lando]

I hadn't considered that. I suppose by contrast in the minicar segment, the Scion iA does have a pretty substantial advantage.

 

[NikoMartinez]

You also have to think of parents buying their kids their first car. A lot of parents are worried about safety.

 

[Lando]

You also have to think of parents buying their kids their first car. A lot of parents are worried about safety.

I suppose that makes a lot of sense. Young drivers are more likely to get into accidents, and having an auto brake system, considering their phone use, will probably save lives and dollars.