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The 2016 Toyota Prius earned a Top Safety Pick+ award in the latest crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The new hybrid might have a polarizing design, but it's safe enough to get the organization's top honor.

 The Prius earned the top "Good" score in the notoriously difficult small overlap front test because the driver's survival space maintained its shape, including just two inches of maximum intrusion into the cabin. The front and side curtain airbags also kept the head well under control and protected it from the vehicle's structure. The agency found the risk of injuries to the legs and feet was also low. The results were an upgrade over the previous-gen Prius, which had an "Acceptable" score in the same test.

 The IIHS gives the 2016 Prius' optional front crash prevention system with the organization's top "Superior" rating because the tech can avoid collisions at 12 and 25 miles per hour. Either an Advanced or Superior score is necessary to earn Top Safety Pick+ honors. It judged the last-gen Prius' active safety equipment as "Advanced."