The 2023 Honda Accord has earned the highest safety rating from the IIHS, Top Safety Pick+. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has raised the requirements to earn either the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards.
This includes requiring that all headlights are rated as Good or Acceptable. In addition a new side impact test uses a heavier striking barrier that collides with the test vehicle at a higher speed. The test vehicle must receive an Acceptable rating to earn the Top Safety Pick Award or Good to receive the higher tier Top Safety Pick+ award.
The 2023 Accord earns a good rating in the updated side test, while the 2022 model only managed a marginal rating. All Accord trim levels also now come with good rated LED reflector headlights. This year’s Top Safety Pick+ criteria also include a new nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test. Advanced or superior performance is required in both the nighttime and daytime pedestrian tests for the higher award. For Top Safety Pick, only a daytime rating of advanced or superior is required. The Accord received the Advanced rating.
Just like before, to earn either award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front and original moderate overlap front tests. The roof strength, head restraint and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluations are no longer part of the award criteria.
