- The IIHS has recently selected the top safety picks among vehicles available in America. Just 48 models made the cut for this prestigious list.
- Stricter regulations aimed at enhancing rear-seat safety led to fewer victors in 2025.
- Secure vehicles span the range from cars, trucks, to SUVs.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has once again selected the safest vehicles. Does yours make the list?
This year’s exams were more challenging, with an added focus on incorporating crash test dummies in the rear seats.
The Institute's revised moderate overlap frontal impact test now includes a second crash-test dummy positioned behind the driver to highlight rear-seat safety, according to IIHS. In last year's update, earning an "acceptable" or "good" score on this new test was necessary for securing the top-tier Top Safety Pick+ accolade. Nonetheless, achieving a "good" result from the initial test remained sufficient to secure the basic award.
The institute stated that this year, cars need to achieve an 'acceptable' score in the revised evaluation to be eligible for the Top Safety Pick award, whereas a 'good' rating will be mandatory for the 'plus' distinction.
The front overlap test smacks the vehicle headlong into a fixed barrier right on the left front headlight. The side impact test sees a heavy sled carom into the right side B-pillar. It’s gruesome, but necessary for safety advancement.
In addition, an ‘acceptable’ or ‘good’ rating is also required in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation, which gauges performance in both daytime and nighttime conditions. Pedestrian detection requires numerous sensors.
(IIHS was founded and is funded by insurance companies. Optimists will say it makes us all safer. Pessimists have been known to snipe that insurance companies just don’t want to pay out so many premiums. Take your pick.)
“We’re once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row.”
This year 48 vehicles are on the list, compared to 71 from 2024.
Here are the new winners:
2025 Top Safety Pick+
- Compact Vehicles: Honda Civic hatchback, Mazda 3 hatchback, Mazda 3 sedan
- Midsize Cars: Honda Accord, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Toyota Camry
- Midsize Luxury Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Compact SUVs: Genesis GV60, Hyundai Tucson, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mazda CX-50, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Solterra
- Midsize SUVs include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Santa Fe (manufactured from December 2024 onward), Kia EV9, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-70 Plug-in Hybrid, Mazda CX-90, Mazda CX-9 Plug-in Hybrid, and Nissan Pathfinder.
- Midsize luxury SUVs include models such as the BMW X5, Genesis Electrified GV70, Genesis GV70 (manufactured from May 2024 onwards), Genesis GV80, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class equipped with an optional forward collision avoidance system, and Volvo XC90 (produced until November 2024).
- Big Sport Utility Vehicles: Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, Rivian R1S manufactured after August 2024
- Big Pick-Up Truck: Toyota Tundra crew cab
2025 Top Safety Pick
- Compact Vehicles: Acura Integra hatchback, Honda Civic sedan
- Luxury Large Sedan: Genesis G90
- Small SUVs: Subaru Forester (excludes Wilderness trim)
- Midsize SUVs: Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent
- Midsize Luxury SUVs: Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60, Lexus NX, Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid (built before December 2024)
- Large Pickup: Rivian R1T
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