The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently gave the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander its coveted Top Safety Pick+ award. The award applies to Outlanders built after June 2021, when the automaker adjusted the standard LED reflector headlights supplied with all trims to reduce excessive glare. 

To capture top recognition, the small SUV excelled at six challenging crashworthiness evaluations. These included the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.

But IIHS engineers demand far more before vehicles can roll away with “plus” status. 

For example, contenders must also be available with a front crash prevention system that garners advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. In this particular challenge, the Outlander outdid itself — earning superior ratings in both evaluations for its standard Forward Collision Mitigation System.  

Top Safety Pick+ winners must also come with good or acceptable headlights across all trims. The Outlander earns a good rating for the LED reflector headlights that are standard across all trims — giving it the final element needed to capture “plus” status.