While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has bestowed its highest honor — a Top Safety Pick+ award — on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its fleet vehicle “twin,” the Voyager, did not garner that same coveted safety recognition.

Earning the highest accolade from the Institute is no easy feat. First, the Pacifica was put through the paces of six rigorous crashworthiness tests — acing every one and earning good scores across the board. Evaluations included the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.

But the Institute’s engineers demand far more before they declare a vehicle a Top Safety Pick+ winner.

For example, to earn “plus” status vehicles must also be available with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. In addition, good or acceptable headlights must be standard across all trims — not a feature that every vehicle can claim.

However, Pacifica models built after September 2021 measured up on all criteria. They come equipped with acceptable headlights and a front crash prevention system that earns a superior rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle test and an advanced rating in the vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation.

Unfortunately, the Pacifica’s twin — the Voyager — a well-known fleet vehicle, missed out on the highest safety award due to poor-rated headlights.