2019 Tesla Model 3 picks top safety award from IIHS

Tesla has picked up its first award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as the 2019 Model 3, its less expensive sedan, qualifies for ‘Top Safety Pick+’.

To earn a 2019 Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. It also needs an available front crash prevention system with an advanced or superior rating and good- or acceptable-rated headlights.

For the top-tier award, Top Safety Pick+, good ratings are required in the passenger-side small overlap test and the headlight evaluation.

According to IIHS, the Model 3, a midsize luxury car that is the most affordable of Tesla's three vehicles, earns good ratings across the board for crashworthiness. Its standard front crash prevention system earns a superior rating, avoiding collisions in both the 12 mph (19 kph) and 25 mph (40 kph) IIHS track tests, and its only available headlights earn a good rating.

IIHS also revealed the Model 3's structure held up well in one of its most challenging crash tests, the driver-side small overlap front test. The intrusion of 8 inches at the lower door-hinge pillar contributed to moderate risk of injury to the driver's lower leg, as indicated by measures taken from the dummy. No other injury risk was recorded, and the front and side airbags and the seat belt worked well to control the dummy's movement during the crash.

Recently, the Hyundai Nexo became the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to earn an award from IIHS over the summer. Like the Model 3 and the e-tron, the Nexo, a midsize luxury SUV, qualifies for Top Safety Pick+ based on standard equipment.

Also read: Audi e-tron earns top safety award from IIHS