On the Dash:
- Families seeking maximum safety may consider three-row SUVs or family-friendly electric SUVs, as no minivans earned awards in 2026.
- Budget-conscious buyers can access more than a dozen vehicles under $30,000 that are recognized as Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+.
- Stricter 2026 IIHS requirements emphasize crash performance, pedestrian detection, and standard forward collision avoidance technology.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released its 2026 Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick winners, naming 63 vehicles so far, 15 more than in 2025. Notably, no minivans earned either award this year, reflecting stricter requirements.
IIHS president David Harkey alluded that minivans continue to struggle to protect rear-seat passengers. He suggested families consider SUVs as safer alternatives, though few three-row SUVs match the interior space of minivans.
According to the agency, family-friendly SUV winners include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-90, Nissan Pathfinder, and Subaru Ascent. Electric SUVs making the Top Safety Pick+ list include the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9, Rivian R1S, and Volvo EX90. Top Safety Pick mainstream SUVs include Ford Explorer, Nissan Armada, and Volkswagen Atlas, while luxury three-row SUV winners include Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, and Volvo XC90.
Budget-conscious buyers benefit from more than a dozen vehicles priced around or below $30,000. Top Safety Pick+ recipients include the Mazda3 (hatchback and sedan), Nissan Sentra, and Hyundai Sonata. The Toyota Camry also earns Top Safety Pick+ recognition, with a price slightly exceeding $30,000 with destination fees. Top Safety Pick models under $30,000 include the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius.
Top Safety Pick+ Vehicles
- Small Cars: Kia K4, Mazda3, Nissan Sentra
- Midsize Cars: Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry
- Small SUVs: Genesis GV60, Kia Sportage, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-50, Hyundai Tucson, Subaru Forester
- Midsize SUVs: Honda Passport, Mazda CX-70 PHEV, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Mazda CX-90, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia EV9, Kia Sorento, Nissan Murano, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent
- Mid-Size Luxury SUVs: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Genesis GV70, Infiniti QX60, Lexus NX
- Large SUVs: Rivian R1S, Volvo EX90
- Large Pickup Truck: Tesla Cybertruck
Top Safety Pick Vehicles
- Small Cars: Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius
- Midsize Cars: Honda Accord
- Midsize SUVs: Buick Enclave, Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Atlas
- Midsize Luxury SUVs: Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Volvo XC90
- Large SUVs: Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, Nissan Armada
- Large Pickup Truck: Toyota Tundra crew cab
The 2026 awards reflect more rigorous IIHS criteria than in 2025. Vehicles are evaluated on three crash tests (two frontal and one side-impact), forward-collision-avoidance systems for pedestrians and other vehicles, and headlight performance. Ratings range from poor to good.
To earn Top Safety Pick, vehicles must achieve “good” in all three crash tests, standard headlights rated acceptable or good, and a forward collision system scoring at least acceptable in pedestrian avoidance. Top Safety Pick+ vehicles face stricter collision avoidance requirements, including “good” in pedestrian avoidance and acceptable or good in vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention.
