The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released its updated list of the safest cars currently available, featuring a wide range of popular sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, and electric vehicles.
This year’s testing criteria have become even more rigorous, with particular attention paid to improving rear-seat passenger safety.
The vehicles listed below have proven their ability to protect occupants in various crash scenarios while incorporating advanced technology that helps prevent collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians. Consumer Reports integrates IIHS test scores into each vehicle’s Overall Score.
Funded by the insurance industry, the IIHS conducts comprehensive crash tests and evaluates features such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and headlight performance.
Based on these results, the organization awards vehicles with either a Top Safety Pick (TSP) or Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) designation. Over the years, the IIHS has continuously raised its standards, pushing automakers to develop safer, more advanced vehicles for consumers.
The current list highlights cars and SUVs from both the 2025 and 2026 model years that have completed testing so far. However, the IIHS plans to continue evaluating additional models throughout the year, meaning more TSP and TSP+ winners will be announced later. This article will be updated as new results become available.
2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ Winners
Small Cars
- Acura Integra (TSP)
- Honda Civic Sedan (TSP)
- Honda Civic Hatchback (TSP+)
- Hyundai Elantra (TSP+)
- Kia K4 (TSP+)
- Mazda3 Hatchback and Sedan (TSP+)
- Toyota Prius (TSP+)
Midsized Cars
- Honda Accord (TSP+)
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 (TSP+)
- Hyundai Sonata (TSP+)
- Toyota Camry (TSP+)
Midsized Luxury Car
- Audi A5 (TSP+)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (TSP+)
Large Luxury Car
- Genesis G90 (TSP)
Small SUVs
- BMW X3 (TSP+), built after April 2025
- Genesis GV60 (TSP+)
- Honda HR-V (TSP+)
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 (TSP+)
- Hyundai Kona (TSP+)
- Hyundai Tucson (TSP+)
- Kia Sportage (TSP+), 2026
- Mazda CX-30 (TSP+)
- Mazda CX-50 (TSP+)
- Nissan Rogue (TSP), 2026
- Subaru Forester (TSP, excluding Wilderness trim)
- Subaru Solterra (TSP+)
- Toyota bZ4X (TSP+)
- Toyota Corolla Cross (TSP)
Midsized SUVs
- Chevrolet Traverse (TSP)
- Ford Explorer (TSP+)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E (TSP+)
- GMC Acadia (TSP)
- Honda Pilot (TSP)
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 (TSP+), 2026
- Hyundai Santa Fe (TSP+, if built after Nov. 1, 2024)
- Kia EV9 (TSP+)
- Kia Telluride (TSP+)
- Mazda CX-70 and CX-70 PHEV (TSP+)
- Mazda CX-90 and CX-90 PHEV (TSP+)
- Nissan Murano (TSP+)
- Nissan Pathfinder (TSP+)
- Subaru Ascent (TSP)
- Tesla Model Y (TSP+)
Midsized Luxury SUVs
- Acura MDX (TSP)
- Audi Q6 E-Tron (TSP+)
- Audi Q6 Sportback E-Tron (TSP+)
- BMW X5 (TSP+)
- Buick Enclave (TSP+)
- Genesis GV70 (TSP+, if built after April 1, 2024)
- Genesis Electrified GV70 (TSP+)
- Genesis GV80 (TSP+)
- Infiniti QX60 (TSP)
- Lexus NX (TSP)
- Lincoln Nautilus (TSP+)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC (TSP+)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE (TSP+, with optional front-crash prevention)
- Volvo XC90 (TSP+, if built before December 2024)
- Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid (TSP+)
Large SUVs
- Audi Q7 (TSP+)
- Infiniti QX80 (TSP+)
- Nissan Armada (TSP+)
- Rivian R1S (TSP+, if built after August 2024)
Pickups
- Hyundai Santa Cruz (TSP), 2026
- Rivian R1T (TSP)
- Toyota Tundra (TSP+, crew cab)
How IIHS Tests Cars
The IIHS began publishing crash-test results in 1995 and introduced the Top Safety Pick (TSP) designation in 2006. To qualify for a TSP rating in 2025, vehicles must achieve the following:
- An Acceptable rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, which simulates a vehicle crossing the center line and colliding with another car at 40 mph, with 40% of its front end involved in the impact, a tougher standard than in previous years.
- A Good rating in the side-crash test.
- Good ratings for both passenger- and driver-side small overlap front tests, which mimic collisions with poles, trees, or vehicle corners.
- Acceptable or Good ratings for pedestrian front crash prevention and headlight performance.
To earn a TSP+ rating, vehicles must meet all of these standards and also achieve a Good rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test.
Over the years, the IIHS has steadily tightened the standards for earning a Top Safety Pick award. For instance, in 2024, vehicles could earn a TSP+ designation with only an Acceptable score in the moderate overlap test.
Consequently, just 48 models have qualified for TSP or TSP+ awards in 2025, compared to 71 in 2024. The drop doesn’t indicate reduced safety, it reflects the tougher testing benchmarks now in place.
This year’s list notably excludes all minivans and includes only two pickups, despite ongoing testing in that category.
“That’s unfortunate, considering that minivans are marketed as family haulers, and extended cab and crew cab pickups are often used for that purpose,” said David Harkey, president of the IIHS.
The IIHS continuously refines its crash tests to reflect real-world conditions. The moderate overlap test now includes a rear-seat dummy to measure back-seat passenger protection.
In 2024, the organization added new evaluation criteria for rear-seat and pedestrian safety, while an updated side-impact test was introduced in 2021.
“The IIHS tests challenge vehicles in new ways that better replicate real-world crashes and evaluate crash avoidance technologies,” she explained. “Automakers usually respond by redesigning their vehicles to meet those challenges.”
