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SEARCHThe car’s elevation from Top Safety Pick comes after IIHS obtained A3s with different lighting systems for headlight testing.
Photo courtesy of IIHS.
Photo courtesy of IIHS.
Two headlight options on the Audi A3 have earned an “acceptable” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, elevating the mid-size luxury car to the status of a Top Safety Pick+ award winner, according to IIHS.
The car was previously an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
To qualify as a 2017 Top Safety Pick award winner, a vehicle must earn the highest possible rating of “good” in the five IIHS crashworthiness tests — small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints — as well as an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention. The “plus” distinction is given to vehicles that also earn an “acceptable” or “good” rating for headlights.
The A3 has a standard “superior”-rated front crash prevention system. The car’s promotion to the higher award comes after IIHS obtained A3s with different lighting systems for headlight testing.
The LED headlights on the Prestige trim and the Premium Plus trim equipped with the optional LED lighting package drew an “acceptable” rating. The Prestige trim includes high-beam assist, which automatically switches between low beams and high beams, depending on the presence of other vehicles.
The high-intensity discharge headlights on the lowest trim level, Premium, and on the Premium Plus trim without the LED package drew a “poor” rating from IIHS. “They provide inadequate lighting on the straightaway and all four curves that are part of the IIHS evaluation,” the institute said.
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