The recent upgrade in headlights for the 2027 Kia Telluride highlights how IIHS standards are influencing OEM production choices at the component level. This model, along with the redesigned 2026-27 Tesla Model Y, received the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ award. Notably, Kia’s award is conditional on vehicles being manufactured after June 2026, when the headlight issue was rectified.
To qualify for these awards, vehicles must score well across various crash tests and have acceptable or better headlights as standard across all trims. The Top Safety Pick+ takes it a step further, requiring good pedestrian front crash prevention and at least an acceptable vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention score, new criteria introduced in 2024.
The Model Y secured good ratings in all relevant categories, while the Telluride achieved equivalent scores for models produced after the June update. Conversely, five other models tested, including the 2026 BMW i4, did not meet the standards, often due to poor V2V scores or inadequate headlight ratings.
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