Safest Vehicles of 2025: Institute for Highway Safety Releases ‘Top Safety Picks’ for Crash Protection

With tougher crash tests, the latest list by a national vehicle safety evaluator spotlights the cars and SUVs that go the extra mile to protect you and your family.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its highly anticipated list of the safest new cars for 2025, and the results reflect a new era of automotive safety. As crash tests become more rigorous, especially for rear-seat passengers, fewer vehicles are earning top honors, but those that do represent the gold standard in occupant protection and crash avoidance technology.

For 2025, here’s what what’s new in the institute’s safety testing:

• Tougher Standards: The IIHS now requires vehicles to earn higher ratings in an updated moderate overlap front crash test, which includes a rear-seat dummy to better assess back seat safety.
• Comprehensive Evaluations: Vehicles must also excel in side-crash tests, small overlap front tests (driver and passenger side), pedestrian crash prevention, and headlight performance.
• Fewer Winners, Higher Bar: Only 48 models have qualified for Top Safety Pick (TSP) or Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) so far in 2025, down from 71 last year, not because vehicles got less safe, but because the benchmarks are more demanding than ever.

For the full list of Top Safety Picks, please see below.

The institute has continually raised the bar for crash safety, pushing automakers to innovate and redesign vehicles to meet tougher standards. This year’s updates reflect real-world crash data and focus on protecting all occupants, especially those in the back seat, a group that, until recently, hadn’t received as much attention in crash testing. Updates include a rear-seat dummy to replicate real-world injury risks for back seat passengers, and stricter headlight and dedestrian protection; vehicles must excel in these areas to earn top honors, reflecting the growing importance of crash avoidance and visibility.

Thus, choosing a vehicle with a Top Safety Pick rating means selecting a car or SUV that goes above and beyond in protecting you and your loved ones. With automakers responding to these tougher tests, consumers benefit from safer cars on the road, said Matt Clark, attorney and managing partner at the Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark. Notably, no minivans and only two pickups made the list, despite their popularity as family vehicles.

“As automakers continue to innovate, consumers can drive with greater peace of mind, knowing their vehicles are built to withstand the toughest real-world scenarios,” Clark said.

Here are a few more tips for those looking for a new, safe vehicle:

• • Look for the latest IIHS ratings when shopping for a new or used car.
  • Prioritize vehicles that excel in rear-seat protection and pedestrian crash prevention.
  • Remember, stricter standards mean today’s top picks are safer than ever, even if fewer models make the cut.

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Small Cars

• Acura Integra (TSP)
• Honda Civic Sedan (TSP)
• Honda Civic Hatchback (TSP+)
• Hyundai Elantra (TSP+)
• Kia K4 (TSP+)
• Mazda3 Hatchback & Sedan (TSP+)
• Toyota Prius (TSP+)

Midsized Cars

• Honda Accord (TSP+)
• Hyundai Ioniq 6 (TSP+)
• Hyundai Sonata (TSP+)
• Toyota Camry (TSP+)

Small SUVs

• Genesis GV60 (TSP+)
• Honda HR-V (TSP+)
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 (TSP+)
• Hyundai Kona (TSP+)
• Hyundai Tucson (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-30 (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-50 (TSP+)
• Subaru Forester (TSP, excluding Wilderness trim)
• Subaru Solterra (TSP+)
• Toyota bZ4X (TSP+)

Midsized SUVs

• Chevrolet Traverse (TSP)
• Ford Mustang Mach-E (TSP+)
• GMC Acadia (TSP)
• Honda Pilot (TSP)
• Hyundai Santa Fe (TSP+, if built after Nov. 1, 2024)
• Kia EV9 (TSP+)
• Kia Telluride (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-70/CX-70 PHEV (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-90/CX-90 PHEV (TSP+)
• Nissan Murano (TSP+)
• Nissan Pathfinder (TSP+)
• Subaru Ascent (TSP)

Midsized Luxury SUVs

• Acura MDX (TSP)
• Audi Q6 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, if built before December 2024)

Large SUVs and Pickups

• Audi Q7 (TSP+)
• Infiniti QX80 (TSP+)
• Nissan Armada (TSP+)
• Rivian R1S (TSP+, if built after August 2024)
• Toyota Tundra (TSP+, crew cab)
• Rivian R1T (TSP)

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.