The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is sharing the latest group of TOP SAFETY PICK+ and TOP SAFETY PICK award winners. Additionally, new ratings are also available for the Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, Kia EV6, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota 4Runner and Toyota Grand Highlander.
TOP SAFETY PICK+
Six additional 2025 and 2026 models join the Top Safety Pick+ award list: the all-new A5 and Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, BMW X3, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia Sportage. For the X3, Sportage and Explorer, the award applies only to vehicles built after certain dates, as indicated in the table below.
TOP SAFETY PICK
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan Rogue and Toyota Corolla Cross earn the lower-tier TOP SAFETY PICK award.
The IIHS says to qualify for either award this year, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front and side tests, an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation and acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels.
An acceptable rating in the moderate overlap front test is enough to qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, but a good rating is required for the “plus.”
Most of the new award winners earn good ratings for pedestrian crash avoidance. The exception is the Santa Cruz, which is rated acceptable.
Automaker Improvements
IIHS researchers say the X3 and Explorer qualify for awards thanks to improved headlight ratings following manufacturer modifications, while improved results in the side crash test boost the Corolla Cross and Rogue to award status.
Moderate and Small Overlap Tests
IIHS says subpar performance in the moderate overlap test eliminated the Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron, EV6 and 4Runner from consideration. (The 4Runner also misses the headlight requirement because it is available with poor-rated lights on some trims.) An acceptable rating in the small overlap front test disqualified the Grand Highlander. The EV6 and 4Runner earn marginal ratings in the test.
The Grand Highlander fell short in the small overlap test because the structure around the passenger compartment allowed too much intrusion for a good rating, although the dummy metrics did not indicate an increased risk of injury to the driver or front seat passenger.
The IISA says three current evaluations, vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0, seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use, are not part of the award criteria, but you'll see them in the award results table here as car shoppers will likely want to consider them when making a purchase decision.
Credit: IIHS.
