Volkswagen has announced that its 2015 Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Golf GTI earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's 2014 Top Safety Pick+ award.

The small cars earned "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, including the small overlap front crash test.

The difficult small overlap front crash test was designed to duplicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle hits an object like a utility pole, a true, or another vehicle.

The 2015 Golf GTI reached dealer showrooms over the Memorial Day weekend. The Golf market introduction has been set for August by the automaker.

In order to qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn a "Good" or "Acceptable" rating for small overlap protection and a good rating in four other tests.

A "Plus" rating is given to vehicles that meet those criteria and earn a rating of "Basic" or higher for front crash prevention, according to the IIHS.

"In the small overlap test, the driver's space was maintained well and injury measures recorded on the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity," the IIHS said in a statement this week. "While the dummy's head nearly slid off the left side of the airbag, the side curtain airbag deployed to protect the head from contacting side structure and outside objects."

The 2015 models come equipped with features like six airbags and electronic stability control.

The SEL and SE vehicles are available with an optional Driver Assistance package that includes front and rear Park Distance Control systems and forward collision warning.

The Golf and Golf GTI compete with a number of similar models, including the 2014 Kia Forte, Ford Focus, and Mazda 3, among others.

The award applies to the Golf and GTI with optional forward collision warning.

The redesigned vehicles have not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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