Tesla Model 3 now in the running for IIHS Top Security Pick+.

2018 Tesla Design 3 Long-Range RWD

The majority of cars these days carry out actually well on crash tests.

Where they fall down in ratings from the IIHS is typically in either headlight performance or underperforming active safety functions.

The IIHS validated on Wednesday by means of Twitter that upgraded headlights on the Tesla Design 3 received the Institute’s greatest “Excellent” score, as first reported last week on TorqueNews.

The 2018 Tesla Design 3 now makes an excellent score for its standard LED reflector headlights for models built after June 2018. Previous models earn an appropriate rating. https://t.co/EUWXFLBnkm pic.twitter.com/TOctSTGaAl

— IIHS (@IIHS_autosafety)

The vehicle’s active safety systems– the adaptive cruise control and active lane control consisted of with Autopilot– likewise got the Institute’s top Superior score for such systems.

That means the two main obstacles to the car becoming an IIHS Top Safety Select have been fulfilled.

The IIHS has still not crash-tested the Model 3, so it has actually not yet made the Leading Security Pick+ rating. If the car were to receive a lower rating in among the IIHS crash tests: moderate- and small-overlap front tests, a side test, or a roof-strength test, or measurements of its head restraints, it would endanger the Leading Safety Pick+ score, which the Institute offers just to cars and trucks that perform well in all its tests.

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When the IIHS first tested the Model 3’s headlights back in Might, its headlights made only an Acceptable rating– low enough to win the Design 3 a Top Security Select+. (No Tesla has yet made a Leading Security Select+ classification. The Model S scored the second-highest “Acceptable” rating on the Institute’s challenging small-overlap front crash test, and its headlights were rated Poor– the least expensive ranking. The Model X has not been rated.)

Ever since, Tesla has enhanced the Model 3’s headlights to reach farther down the road and produce less glare, both of which enhanced their score.

The brand-new score uses to Model 3s made since June. So far, Tesla hasn’t found a way to offer the cars and truck new headlight reflectors through an over-the-air software upgrade.