Audi's 2019 Q3 Named Top Safety Pick+

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has recognized two 2019 Audi vehicles with its prestigious safety awards when the vehicles are outfitted with particular headlights.

The 2019 Audi Q3 compact SUV has captured the Top Safety Pick+ award, while the 2019 Audi A7 prestige luxury car has been given a Top Safety award.

The vehicles were put through the paces and scored good ratings in six challenging crashworthiness tests. The institute's evaluations included the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, head restraint, and passenger-side small overlap front tests.

However, rigorous testing doesn't stop there. Institute engineers also demand that award-winning vehicles earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention as well as a good or acceptable headlight rating. 

The Audi vehicles met the criteria for crash prevention, because they're equipped with a standard front crash prevention system that garnered superior ratings. They performed well in track testing, by avoiding crashes in 12 and 25 mph tests.

The headlight rating pushed the Q3 a rung higher than the A7. The Q3's available LED projectors garnered a good rating, giving the SUV the final element needed to capture plus status.

But the A7 failed to get a good rating for headlights. Rather, its best available headlights — LED projector headlights that come with the Premium Plus trim — earned an acceptable rating.