Overview
- IIHS, which released the 2026 list Tuesday, named 45 Top Safety Pick+ winners and 18 Top Safety Pick winners under new, tougher criteria.
- The 2026 rules require a Good rating for rear-seat protection in the moderate overlap front crash and add higher‑speed vehicle‑to‑vehicle tests at 50, 60, and 70 km/h against car, motorcycle, and semitrailer targets, with pedestrian detection also raised for Top Safety Pick+.
- SUVs dominate the top tier with 35 of 45 TSP+ awards, no minivans, minicars, or small pickups qualified, and only two large pickups made the list with Tesla’s Cybertruck earning TSP+ and Toyota’s Tundra crew cab earning TSP.
- Mazda led manufacturers with eight TSP+ awards, while Hyundai Motor Group and Audi posted strong showings, and buyers can find many winners under $30,000, including the Kia K4 at about $22,290.
- Several high‑profile EVs that earned past awards did not qualify this year, with Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y and Rivian’s R1T missing the list as the updated rear‑seat test now demands a Good rating, while the Cybertruck’s TSP+ applies to vehicles built after April 2025.