The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its initial list of Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick winners for the 2023 model year. This time, there are 48 awarded vehicles, which is significantly less than the 101 for 2022 models. This difference is largely due to the IIHS requiring better side-impact protection, improved crash-prevention tech, and better illuminating headlights to be eligible for the honors.

Of the 48 winners, 28 received the Top Safety Pick+ award and 20 got the Top Safety Pick honor. In contrast, 65 models scored the TSP+ last year and 36 won the TSP accolade last year.

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“The number of winners is smaller this year because we’re challenging automakers to build on the safety gains they’ve already achieved,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “These models are true standouts in both crashworthiness and crash prevention.”

The Toyota Motor Corp’s combination of the Toyota and Lexus brands scored the most awards for 2023. It had nine models with a Top Safety Pick+ and six earning a Top Safety Pick. In 2022, Hyundai led the pack with 11 TSP+ honors and 10 TSP trophies

For the 2024 model year, the IIHS will no longer conduct the roof strength, head restraint, and vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash prevention system tests. The current state of the industry means that nearly every model receives Good scores in these evaluations. The organization is working on more challenging examinations to assess these features in the future.

Eliminating some tests won’t make getting an IIHS award any easier for 2024 vehicles. A Good, rather than Good or Acceptable, score on the side-impact test will be necessary to earn either honor. For the updated moderate-overlap front test, a Good or Acceptable rating will be a requirement of the Top Safety Pick+ winner. The revised evaluation will mean there will now be a crash dummy in the second row, and the agency will check it for injuries with sensors.

2023 Top Safety Pick+ Winners:

Acura Integra

Subaru Outback

Toyota Camry built after January 2023

Genesis G90

Honda CR-V

Honda HR-V

Lexus UX

Subaru Solterra built after October 2022

Hyundai Palisade

Kia Telluride

Nissan Pathfinder

Subaru Ascent

Toyota Highlander

Volkswagen ID.4

Acura MDX

Acura RDX

Infiniti QX60

Lexus NX

Lexus NX Plug-in Hybrid

Lexus RX

Tesla Model Y

Volvo XC90

Volvo XC90 Recharge

Honda Odyssey

Toyota Sienna

Rivian R1T crew cab

Toyota Tundra crew cab

Toyota Tundra extended cab

2023 Top Safety Pick Winners:

Honda Civic hatchback except for Type R

Honda Civic sedan

Mazda3 hatchback

Mazda3 sedan

Toyota Corolla hatchback

Toyota Corolla sedan

Hyundai Sonata built after December 2022

Subaru Legacy

Lexus ES 350

Mazda CX-30

Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-50

Nissan Rogue

Subaru Forester

Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV4 Prime

Toyota Venza

Ford Explorer

Mazda CX-9

Lincoln Nautilus

Through the month of February, Motor1.com embarked on a social media challenge that was shared by our editions around the world. Each region picked winners in several categories, but now we have the final tally of overall votes from every car in every edition. Taking the overall crown for the #Motor1socialcar23 contest is the Ferrari Purosangue.

Ferrari’s first SUV captured a convincing win, but it wasn’t a blowout victory. Not far behind in second place was the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The Alfa Romeo Tonale finished in the third spot, with the BMW iX1 and Ferrari 296 GTS rounding out the top five with a very close battle.

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This is the sum of social media votes recorded from no less than eight Motor1.com editions. During the five weeks of the social media challenge, 1.5 million users were reached, logging 120,000 video views and over 190,000 votes. By the time all the smoke had cleared, we achieved a potential reach of 1.2 billion users. And through all that, the Ferrari Purosange came out on top.

For our Motor1.com US social media followers, here’s a recap of the category winners:

Week #1: Best Urban & Compact – Acura Integra

Week #2: Best Truck & Van – Ford Bronco Raptor

Week #3: Best Supercar & Sports Car – Bugatti Mistral Roadster

Week #4: Best Luxury – Bentley Batur

Week #5: Best EV – BMW i4 M50

As for the global champion, the Ferrari Purosange is the first SUV to ever wear a Prancing Horse badge. Despite having four seats and four doors, it still packs a proper Italian punch with a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 providing 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque. It has a redline of 8,250 rpm, but the engine still generates a majority of its torque at a low 2,100 revs. Power goes to the ground through an eight-speed gearbox, and when traction permits, the Pursangue reaches 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

We thank all our Motor1.com fans and social media followers for participating in this year’s Social Car of the Year challenge. Your voice has been heard! And if you don’t already keep up with Motor1.com on socials, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok for news, reviews, photos, and quality automotive content.

The Women’s World Car of the Year for 2023 is the Kia Niro. Sixty-three motoring journalists from 43 countries participated in this year’s contest, testing 59 candidates. The awards group announced the Niro as the winner on International Women’s Day.

The journalists picked the best car in six categories, announcing those winners last month and choosing from them the World’s Best Car for 2023. The Niro was competing against the Audi RS3, Citroen C5 X, Ford Ranger, Jeep Avenger, and Nissan X-Trail. Each was the winner of a specific category.

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“This year’s election was particularly difficult due to the excellent level of all the candidates,” said Marta Garcia, WWCOTY’s executive president. “Each of the finalists had sufficient merit to win the trophy.”

US journalist Elana Scherr said the Niro “delivers a complete package,” while Belgium’s Sabrina Parant called it a car that “continues to impress me.” Renuka Kirpalani, from India, said the Niro was a “practical little city car that gives you everything you need in an affordable package.”

Kia first unveiled the new Niro in late 2021, showing off the crossover’s new design. However, it wouldn’t be until April 2022 that we learned the details of the US-bound version. The Niro took a lot of design inspiration from the 2019 Habaniro concept, arriving in the US with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.

The crossover is larger than the one it replaced, providing more passenger and cargo space. The cabin also got a major makeover. The dashboard now accommodates a dual-screen setup with all the bells and whistles customers want today, like ventilated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and more available.

Last year, 56 women journalists from 40 countries selected the Peugeot 308 as 2022’s Women’s Car of the Year award. The pool had 65 candidates.

The finalists for the 2023 World Car Awards are here, and there are lots of EVs on this year’s list of potential winners. The organization announces the winners on Wednesday, April 5, at the New York International Auto Show. 

The finalists in each category are:

World Car of the Year

World Electric Vehicle

World Luxury Car

World Performance Car

World Urban Car

• Citroen C3
• ORA Funky Cat / Haomao
• Volkswagen Taigo/Nivus

World Car Design

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With nominations in three of the six categories, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air are up for the most potential awards this year. The BMW i7 is competing in two of the divisions.

The jury for the awards consists of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries. They vote by secret ballot.

This year, there’s a new look for the World Car trophy. Ian Callum’s design firm Callum created the design, and they decided the best way to make it was 3D printing. “Reimagining both the design and manufacture is a huge privilege and just the opportunity the team at Callum relish,” Ian Callum said.

The World Car Awards jury already selected its World Car Person of the Year. The voters selected SangYup Lee for the honor. He’s the head of the Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Center.

Last year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 won the World Car of the Year honor to beat out the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Kia EV6. It also won the World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Car Design categories.

The Audi E-Tron GT was the World Performance Car last year. The Mercedes-Benz EQS was World Luxury Car, and the Toyota Yaris Cross was World Urban Car.

Hyundai has now claimed the World Car of the Year Award two times in a row, with the Ioniq 6 taking top honors for 2023. The Ioniq 5 won it along with two other categories in 2022. The Ioniq 6 repeated those wins, taking the World Car Design of the Year and World Electric Vehicle Awards again. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 was one of three finalists for the COTY honor, beating the BMW X1/iX1 and Kia Niro for the top title.

“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious honor two years in a row, which recognizes the tremendous talents and unrelenting efforts of everyone at Hyundai Motor Company to bring EVs like Ioniq 6 to market,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company.

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The organization crowned the Lucid Air as the World Luxury Car, which had to beat out the BMW 7 Series and the Genesis G90 for the award. The Kia EV6 GT won the World Performance Car title, getting more votes than the redesigned Nissan Z and the all-wheel-drive Toyota GR Corolla with its 300-horsepower 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. The Kia has 576 hp on tap and can reach 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds. The World Urban Car Award went to the Citroen C3, which faced off against the Volkswagen Taigo/Nivus and the ORA Funky Cat/Haomao.

Hyundai beat out the BMW i7 and Lucid Air for the EV award. It had to face off against the Land Rover Range Rover and the Lucid Air for the design title.

The World Car Awards used a jury of 100 international automotive journalists from 32 countries to vote on this year’s contenders. Jury members had to whittle down a list of 30 new cars to select this year’s COTY finalists and winner, which will receive trophies created by automotive designer Ian Callum.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 will go on sale in the US this spring. Depending on the motor and batter configuration, the EV gives customers between 270 and 361 miles of range. The Hyundai makes 225 hp with the single-motor setup and 320 hp with the dual-motor one.

The North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards organization unveils its list of 2024 candidates. Twenty-five vehicles have earned the distinction of being considered the “Best of 2024” by NACTOY, following a rigorous selection process. The announcement occurred during a press conference at the Detroit Auto Show at the Huntington Place Convention Center.

A total of 10 cars, 5 trucks, and 10 SUVs make the cut for this year’s competition. In a press release, the organizers explain that each NACTOY juror employs their own unique method for evaluating the “Best of 2024” vehicles. The journey towards determining the winners will continue in October when many of these 50 jurors will gather in Michigan for an annual comparison drive. The unveiling of the finalists is scheduled for November 16 in Los Angeles, with the winners’ announcement set to take place at a special event in metro Detroit on January 4, 2024.

This year’s list includes eight electric models, ranging from the first-ever BMW i5 to the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the Kia EV9. Without further ado, these are the candidates for this year’s NACTOY awards:

Car of the Year

BMW 5 Series

BMW i5

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

Ford Mustang

Honda Accord

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Subaru Impreza

Toyota Crown

Toyota GR Corolla

Toyota Prius/Prius Prime

Truck of the Year

Chevrolet Colorado

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Ford Ranger

Ford Super Duty

GMC Canyon

Utility Vehicle of the Year

Chevrolet Blazer EV

Chevrolet Equinox EV

Dodge Hornet

Genesis Electrified GV70

Honda Pilot

Hyundai Kona

Kia EV9

Mazda CX-90

Toyota Grand Highlander

Volvo EX30

“The value of these awards is in the expertise and diverse perspectives of our jurors. We all evaluate vehicles in a different way. In the end, we come to a consensus. The vehicles on this list are worthy of further evaluation, and we look forward to spending more time driving them, learning more about them, and comparing them with the competition,” said NACTOY president Jeff Gilbert.

Last year’s NACTOY awards saw two electric models winning their respective categories. The Acura Integra secured the title of Best Car, the Ford F-150 Lightning was crowned Best Truck, and the Kia EV6 emerged victorious as the Best SUV. 

The automotive industry in the United States slowly rebounds to pre-pandemic levels of inventory and sales, which has an effect on consumer behavior when it comes to brand loyalty. The J.D. Power’s latest study focused on brand loyalty sheds light on these changing dynamics, revealing that more car buyers are now opting for variety over steadfast brand loyalty.

The lingering impact of supply chain disruptions, which constrained vehicle choices and forced owners to hold onto their cars for extended periods, contributed to the loyalty shift. Some of those issues are now resolved, revealing more options for the customers. Despite this trend away from brand loyalty though, the study also reveals that certain automakers have managed to maintain a strong hold on their customer base.

Starting with the premium segment, Porsche secures the top spot among premium brand car owners for the second consecutive year, boasting an impressive 56.8 percent loyalty rate. Mercedes-Benz follows second not far behind with a solid 50.5 percent loyalty rate. Volvo, meanwhile, tops the chart in the premium SUV segment with the highest loyalty rate of 56.5 percent. BMW comes second with 56.1 percent. 

Just like last year, Toyota emerges as the leader among mass-market brand car owners with a robust 60.0 percent loyalty rate. Honda replaces Kia in the second position (55 percent loyalty rate). Subaru retains last year’s crown in the mainstream SUV segment with an impressive 61.1 percent loyalty rate. On the other hand, Ford continues to dominate the truck segment for the second year in a row with a loyalty rate of 64.6 percent. 

“As vehicle availability increased and more choices hit the market for consumers, loyalty among brands as a whole saw a decline this year. Additionally, owners were tied down to their vehicles for longer than normal due to ongoing supply chain disruptions, and as a result, were more likely to experience problems with their vehicles,” explains Tyson Jominy, VP of data and analytics at J.D. Power.

The J.D. Power Brand Loyalty Study relies on data from the Power Information Network to evaluate whether car owners stick with the same brand when trading in their existing vehicle for a new one. Now in its fifth year, the study encompasses brand loyalty across five distinct segments: premium car, premium SUV, mass-market car, mass-market SUV, and trucks.

In an announcement made during the Los Angeles Auto Show, the field has narrowed to just nine vehicles competing for the 2024 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards. The finalists, comprising three cars, three trucks, and three utility vehicles, emerged from a pool of 52 eligible contenders initially identified at the Detroit Auto Show in September.

The journey to the finals included a selection process that showcased the “Best of 2024”, followed by test-driving and evaluations at NACTOY’s Fall Comparison Drive in October. As the competition intensifies, jurors, consisting of 50 respected automotive journalists, will finalize their assessments over the coming weeks before casting their decisive votes by the year’s end. The winners of these awards will be disclosed on January 4, 2024, at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac.

Without further ado, these are the finalists in this year’s contest:

As you can see, five of those nine contenders are purely electric. As a quick reminder, six EVs made it to the list of finalists last year.

“Electric vehicles again make up more than half of our finalists,” said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert. “That shows how important they are to carmakers and how many more choices car buyers now have. But there is a lot of variety in this group, including a big work truck, a hybrid, and a family sedan.”

Earlier in September, NACTOY unveiled its initial list of candidates for the 2024 awards. The announcement took place during a press conference at the Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, where a total of 10 cars, 5 trucks, and 10 SUVs earned the distinction of being the “Best of 2024” following a comprehensive selection process.

Autonomous car technology is still years away from becoming a mainstream reality. Automakers are making advancements, but the technology has to contend with some serious growing pains before people can soundly nap during their Monday morning commutes. A recent crash involving a Cruise taxi and another vehicle is a reminder that the technology is far from perfect and could even be dangerous.

The crash happened one day after Cruise received the green light to operate and offer services in San Francisco, and it resulted in the occupants of both vehicles receiving injuries. It’s still unclear what exactly happened between the two. A San Francisco Police Department spokesperson told Automotive News that they could not find a crash report related to the incident.

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The report that Cruise filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which AN linked to, reveals that the Cruise taxi was in autonomous mode and stopped in traffic at the time of the crash. A Toyota Prius broadsided the Cruise vehicle, and the report notes that the taxi received “major” damage to its rear and side in the incident.

A Cruise spokesperson declined to explain why the vehicle stopped in traffic to Automotive News. The crash has led the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open a special crash investigation. According to the publication, this is the 45th one since 2016 that the agency has opened and the first one for Cruise. In recent months, NHTSA has been increasing its scrutiny of automakers’ semi-self-driving and advanced driver-assist technologies.

Automakers and tech companies will continue to fine-tune the technology. It won’t arrive overnight, and there could be hurdles in the future we haven’t even thought about yet. In April of this year, police had to stop a driverless Cruise taxi for failing to have its headlights turned on. In late June, more than a dozen Cruise taxis blocked a San Francisco street that required humans to come to fix. And the technology is still in its infancy.

Like it or not, the automotive industry constantly keeps pushing the technology toward self-driving vehicles. At this point, it’s difficult to tell whether fully autonomous vehicles will rule the world in this century – there are hundreds of important questions that need to be answered first – but the path seems to be clear that automakers won’t stop working on the tech. But are the consumers ready to embrace driverless cars already?

Judging by many surveys we’ve seen and tons of comments from our readers, the short answer is no. A new study, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, even shows consumers want appropriate safeguards in vehicles equipped with partial automation. In general, consumer interest in these technologies is strong but drivers prefer systems that require them to stay engaged in driving and take responsibility for the vehicle.

“Automakers often assume that drivers want as much technology as they can get in their vehicles, but few studies have examined actual consumer opinions about partial driving automation,” Alexandra Mueller, the survey’s primary designer, explains. IIHS asked more than 1,000 drivers from the United States looking for feedback on three partial automated systems – lace centering, automated lane changing, and driver monitoring.

The results of the survey reveal more drivers would prefer hands-on versions of the safety features their vehicles are equipped with. For example, some lane centering and lane changing systems don’t require input from the driver but those generally find less support in the survey. IIHS also says drivers generally prefer driver-initiated systems over vehicle-initiated semi-self-driving tech.

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The majority of drivers also said they would feel more comfortable if there are driver-monitoring systems on board. These include, for example, sensors on the steering wheel and a camera aimed at the driver’s face tracking the direction they are looking at. In general, more than half of the surveyed consumers said they would at least consider buying a vehicle with some sort of automated semi-autonomous functions.