The second-generation Honda HR-V was all new for the 2022 model year, and now the Japanese automaker has additional bragging rights for its latest subcompact crossover.

The 2023 HR-V has officially earned a Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), making it the seventh Honda in the current lineup to receive this crash score. The TSP+ is the highest possible score in these tests. Those other 2022 model year Honda models include the Accord, Civic Sedan and Hatchback, Insight, and Odyssey. Meanwhile, the outgoing CR-V generation earned a Top Safety Pick (one step down from TSP+) rating, though only when equipped with optional and more powerful headlights. The all-new sixth-generation CR-V has yet to be tested.

The 2023 HR-V's standard front crash prevention system earned a Superior rating in the vital vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian avoidance tests.

Every HR-V trim comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistance technologies, which include Collision Mitigation Braking (aka front crash prevention), forward collision warning, road departure mitigation with lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

The automaker mentions that all of its current vehicles feature its proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, which is restraint technology that protects occupants in different collisions, whether the impact comes from the front, sides, or rear.

Earning a TSP+ award is not an easy feat. Every tested vehicle must first receive a Good rating in six separate crash tests, including the pivotal driver-side small overlap front test.

Other crash tests include passenger-side small overlap, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and headrest tests.

Advanced or Superior ratings in vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tests are also a must to receive the highest honor. One critical area where other makes and models miss out on the top score is headlight ratings (note the aforementioned outgoing CR-V). Acceptable or Good headlight ratings across every model trim level are required.

Based on Honda's Global Architecture, the 2022 (and '23) HR-V comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-pot, rated at 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, paired to a CVT gearbox. No other engine/transmission combo is offered.

Other standard features include a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch LCD instrument display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and 10 airbags. Pricing for the HR-V starts at just $23,800, not including destination charges.