Watch Lincoln MKX Named Top Safety Pick+
The redesigned mid-size luxury SUV scores the highest rating -- “good” -- in all five crashworthiness tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Photo: IIHS
The redesigned Lincoln MKX has captured the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ award — thanks to across-the-board “good” crashworthiness ratings and a “superior”-rated front crash prevention system.
The previous version of the mid-size luxury SUV scored “good” ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations, but was never put through the challenging small overlap test. Introduced in 2012, the test replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole.
The 2016 model-year MKX aced the small overlap test, with maximum intrusion of 4 inches at the lower door hinge pillar. (To view video footage of the test, click on the photo or link below the headline.)
“The dummy’s movement was well-controlled,” IIHS explained in a released statement. “Its head hit the front airbag and stayed there until rebound, and the side curtain airbag deployed with sufficient coverage to protect the head from contact with the side structure or outside objects. Measures taken from the dummy indicated a low risk of injuries in a real crash of the same severity.”
The redesigned model’s optional front crash prevention system earned a perfect score in IIHS track tests. The vehicle avoided a collision in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests. The Lincoln MKX also has a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.
To qualify for Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must have “good” ratings in all five crashworthiness tests and an available front crash prevention system that earns an “advanced” or “superior” rating.
More Safety

Top 50 Executive Fleets
It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!
Read More →How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%
Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.
Read More →
Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets
A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.
Read More →
Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset
Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.
Read More →From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets
From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.
Read More →
IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?
Read More →
Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Hosted with the cofounder of Lifesaver Mobile, this episode addresses phone use behind the wheel and how to design a driving environment that actually helps prevents accidents.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)
Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab
Read More →
How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety
This episode connects with Steve Santostasi of Ford Pro and covers how a few seconds of data can make a difference in fleet safety.
Read More →
The Two Biggest Summer Downtime Threats for Fleets
A conversation with a maintenance expert reveals the two most common summer maintenance pains and how to prevent them.
Read More →