The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu recently earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

General Motors made structural changes to improve the Malibu's performance in the small overlap front crash test.

To improve small overlap performance, GM modified the Malibu's front structure and door sill, according to the automaker.

The 2013 Malibu received a "Marginal" rating in the test, according to GM.

"In the latest small overlap test, the driver's space was maintained well, and injury measures recorded on the driver dummy indicated low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity," said the IIHS in a statement this week. "The dummy's head made good contact with the front airbag, which stayed in position during the crash, and the side curtain airbag deployed to protect the head from contact with side structures."

The small overlap test is designed to replicate what occurs when the front corner of a vehicle hits another vehicle or an object like a tree, according to the IIHS.

A vehicle must earn a "Good" or "Acceptable" rating for small overlap protection, a "Good" rating in the Institute's other crash tests, along with a "Basic," "Advanced," or "Superior" rating for front crash protection to qualify for Top Safety Pick+.

The 2014 Malibu also recently earned a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to GM.

The Malibu competes with similar vehicles like the 2014 Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry.

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