The standard Taos headlights were awarded a Marginal rating.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety didn’t award the 2022 Volkswagen Taos a Top Safety Pick award. This is because it failed to score in two crash tests. The standard headlights were also given a Marginal score because they did not provide adequate visibility.
The Passenger-side small overlap crash testing The Taos’ body was deformed to make the occupant’s survival area. The IIHS gave the crossover an Acceptable rating, one step below its top score of Good۔ The Taos seat didn’t provide sufficient support for the dummy’s neck and head in a rear-end collision simulation. This performance was a reason why the IIHS awarded the vehicle an Acceptable score.
The Taos was awarded a Good Score in the four other IIHS crash tests.
Front crash prevention systems are also tested by the agency. The Taos’ tech receives a Basic score in the vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation and Superior in the vehicle-to-vehicle test
A Top Safety Pick award can be given to a vehicle of the 2022 model year. It must score a Good in all six crash tests. An available front crash prevention system has to score Advanced or Superior in the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. A headlight option must be rated Good or Acceptable
The standard headlights must earn a Good or Acceptable score to be eligible for the Top Safety Pick+ award
The IIHS has made it harder for 2023 vehicles to receive one of its awards. Side impact crashes are now performed at higher speeds and with more weight hitting the vehicle. To be a Top safety pick, a score of Good or acceptable is required. A Top safety pick+ requires a rating of Good.
IIHS will also add a nighttime pedestrian crash prevention evaluation. A vehicle must have an Advanced or Superior rating to be considered Top Safety Pick+.
A second change is that standard headlights must have a Good or Acceptable score to qualify for Top Safety Pick status.