CARS.COM — In mid-September, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that Chrysler’s new Pacifica minivan earned the agency’s top safety rating — the first minivan to do so. Today, the 2017 Kia Sedona joins the list. The Sedona earned Top Safety Pick Plus status thanks to its upgraded optional automatic braking system.
Like the 2015-16 Sedona, the 2017 model earned good ratings across the board in IIHS crashworthiness tests and its autobrake system, previously rated basic, earned the superior rating for 2017; systems must earn an advanced or superior front crash prevention rating to qualify for Top Safety Pick Plus. IIHS said that in its track testing at 12 and 25 mph, the 2017 Sedona’s front crash prevention system avoided collisions.
Other minivan competitors fall short of the Sedona and Pacifica’s ratings. The 2017 Toyota Sienna has not yet been tested by IIHS, but the 2016 model earned only an acceptable rating in the challenging small overlap front test, precluding it from Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus status. The 2016 Honda Odyssey earned good scores across all crash tests but a basic score in front crash prevention.
News Editor
Jennifer Geiger
News Editor Jennifer Geiger joined the automotive industry in 2003, much to the delight of her Corvette-obsessed dad. Jennifer is an expert reviewer, certified car-seat technician and mom of three. She wears a lot of hats — many of them while driving a minivan.