Tesla has picked up its first award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as the 2019 Model 3, its less expensive sedan, qualifies for ‘Top Safety Pick+’. The IIHS is a US-based, independent, non-profit organisation that works to increase road safety.

To earn a 2019 Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in a variety of tests including driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. It also needs a front crash prevention system with an advanced or superior rating and good- or acceptable-rated headlights.

For the top-tier award – the Top Safety Pick+ – a good rating is required in the passenger-side small overlap test and the headlight evaluation.

According to IIHS, Tesla’s most affordable model, earned good ratings across the board for crashworthiness. Its standard front crash prevention system got a superior rating – avoiding collisions in both the 12mph (19kph) and 25mph (40kph) IIHS track tests – and its headlights were graded at good.

IIHS also revealed the Model 3's structure held up well in one of its most challenging crash tests, the driver-side small overlap front test. The intrusion of 8 inches at the lower door-hinge pillar contributed to moderate risk of injury to the driver's lower leg, as indicated by measures taken from the dummy. No other injury risk was recorded, and the front and side airbags and the seat belt worked well to control the dummy's movement during the crash.

Recently, the Hyundai Nexo became the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to earn an award from IIHS. Like the Model 3 and the India-bound e-tron, the Nexo also qualified for the Top Safety Pick+ award based on standard equipment.

The Tesla Model 3 also scored 5-stars in Euro NCAP tests held earlier this year in July and it achieved one of the highest scores ever recorded by the organisation.