cars news 10: 2016 Mini Cooper Hardtop Two-Door Nabs IIHS TSP+ Award

The 2016 Mini Cooper has earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Mini recently made improvements to the car’s side curtain airbags to better protect rear-seat passengers. For 2016, the Mini earned “Good” ratings in all five crash tests, as well as an “Advanced” rating in front crash prevention thanks to optional technology including forward collision warning and auto brake. The car was able to avoid a collision in three out of five runs while driving at 12 mph, and slowed down to 1-3 mph in the other two situations. While traveling at 25 mph, the Mini Cooper’s front crash prevention technology slowed its impact speed by an average of 7 mph.

Last year, the Mini Cooper wasn’t rated in the side crash evaluation. Shortly after it was redesigned for the 2014 model year, the minicar failed a side crash test conducted by the government, resulting in a recall. That pushed back plans by the IIHS to run side crash tests. The model earned “Good” scores in the agency’s other four crash categories, but wasn’t able to qualify for a TSP award.

The TSP+ rating applies to two-door Hardtop models built after November 2015. Among other vehicles that IIHS classifies as minicars, the Scion iA is the only other to earn the agency’s highest award for the 2016 model year.

Source: IIHS