The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the 2019 Honda HR-V has received its Top Safety Pick award, when it’s equipped with the optional front crash prevention system and LED headlights.

The 2019 Honda HR-V did receive a refresh for the new model year, which also included several safety improvements, like higher-rated headlights and the optional front crash prevention system. Honda also made some structural enhancements to improve occupant protection in both small overlap and moderate overlap frontal crashes.

2019 Honda HR-V

To receive the 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 front test. It also needs an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and a good or acceptable headlight rating. The 2019 HR-V earns good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations.

Its front crash prevention system also received a superior rating in the 12 mph and 25 mph tests, while the HR-V Touring model’s LED headlights received an acceptable rating. The HR-V missed out on the higher Top Safety Pick+ award since its headlights did not receive the higher “good” rating. The base halogen headlights received a poor rating because the IIHS says that they provide inadequate visibility in multiple headlight test scenarios.