Volkswagen, Mercedes GLE-Class earned IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus tag

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety marked 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan and 2020 Mercedes GLE-Class with the highest safety pick plus grade. Though, both the models were not able to earn the award with their standard equipment, however when loaded with additional options able to grab the honor.

As known, the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ category was created in 2013 and presently it has 48 cars and trucks on the list. The tag of IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus comes by performing the following six crash tests: 

• Driver-side small overlap front
• Moderate overlap front 
• Side
• Roof strength
• Head restraint tests - 
• Passenger-side small overlap test

After achieving good ratings in all the six IIHS crash tests, the Tiguan and GLE-Class were awarded the top honor. 

Let’s have a close look at the supporting reasons. Mercedes GLE-Class was able to grab it due to its optional curve-adaptive LED projector headlights with high-beam assistance which are provided in the model after July 2019. On the contrary, with the base static LED headlights it settled on Acceptable rating and disqualified from getting the TSP+. 

The front crash prevention system is provided in the model as standard equipment and also offered with an optional system. During the test, GLE tried its best with both the systems to meet the forward collision warning requirements and marked with the Superior rating. 

Moving to the Volkswagen Tiguan, which received the honor only when equipped with curve-adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist and the front crash prevention system. In the case of headlights, the base halogen headlights received a Poor rating whereas advanced headlights (came after June 2019) earned a Good rating. According to the IIHS, “Earlier models with the same headlights earn only a Marginal rating and therefore don't qualify for an award.” 

Before this, 2019 GLE-Class also earned the TSP+ award with added options and Volkswagen Golf GTI was also awarded the tag.

Also read: 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI prices revealed, increased by $1,025