Safest New Cars of 2026, According to the IIHS

• Honda Civic hatchback (TSP)
• Hyundai Elantra (TSP)
• Kia K4 (TSP+)
• Mazda 3 hatchback and sedan (TSP+)
• Nissan Sentra (TSP+)
• Toyota Prius (TSP)

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

• Audi A5 (TSP+)
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class (TSP)

• Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron (2027 model) (TSP+)
• Genesis G80 (built after June 2025) (TSP+)

• Genesis GV60 (TSP+)
• Honda HR-V (TSP+)
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 (TSP+)
• Hyundai Kona (TSP+)
• Hyundai Tucson (TSP+)
• Kia Sportage (built after May 2025) (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-30 (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-50 (TSP+)
• Subaru Forester (TSP+)

• Buick Enclave (TSP)
• Ford Explorer (TSP)
• Ford Mustang Mach-E (TSP)
• Honda Passport (TSP+)
• Hyundai Ioniq 9 (TSP+)
• Hyundai Santa Fe (TSP+)
• Kia EV9 (TSP+)
• Kia Sorento (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-70 (built after September 2025) (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-70 PHEV (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-90 (TSP+)
• Mazda CX-90 PHEV (TSP+)
• Nissan Murano (TSP+)
• Nissan Pathfinder (TSP+)
• Subaru Ascent (TSP+)
• Subaru Outback (TSP+)
• Volkswagen Atlas (TSP)
• Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (TSP)

• Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback (TSP+)
• Audi Q6 e-tron and Q6 Sportback e-tron (2027 model) (TSP+)
• BMW X3 (TSP+)
• BMW X5 (TSP+)
• Genesis Electrified GV70 (TSP+)
• Genesis GV70 (TSP+)
• Genesis GV80 (TSP+)
• Infiniti QX60 (TSP+)
• Lexus NX (TSP+)
• Lincoln Nautilus (TSP)
• Mercedes-Benz GLC (TSP)
• Volvo XC90 (TSP)

• Audi Q7 (TSP)
• Infiniti QX80 (TSP)
• Nissan Armada (TSP)
• Rivian R1S (TSP+)
• Volvo EX90 (TSP+)

• Tesla Cybertruck (TSP+)
• Toyota Tundra crew cab (TSP & TSP+)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety first began releasing crash-test ratings in 1995 and introduced the TSP rating in 2006. To get a TSP rating in 2026, vehicles must earn:
• A rating of Good in the updated moderate-overlap front crash test, which mimics what happens if a vehicle crosses a center line and 40 percent of its front end hits a similarly sized oncoming car at 40 mph. 
• A rating of Good in the side-crash test.
• Ratings of Good in combined passenger- and driver-side small-overlap front crash tests, which mimic a crash with a tree, a telephone pole, or the front corner of an oncoming car. 
• A rating of Acceptable or Good in pedestrian front crash prevention tests and headlight performance evaluations.
• Standard front crash prevention technology such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) that can avoid or lessen the impact of a crash. This requirement is new for 2026.

To earn a TSP+ rating in 2026, vehicles must now meet all of those same qualifications and also earn a Good rating in the IIHS’ pedestrian front crash prevention test, and a Good or Acceptable rating in the IIHS’ new vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test, which now includes higher speed crashes with motorcycles and semi-trailers.

The IIHS’ requirements for earning a TSP award get tougher every year. Last year, for example, vehicles only had to earn an Acceptable rating in the moderate-overlap test to earn a TSP award.

“These changes are usually due to data from real-world crashes,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, manager for auto safety at Consumer Reports. For example, the IIHS updated its side-crash test in 2021, and now does the moderate-overlap crash test with a dummy in the seat behind the driver to evaluate rear-seat crash protection. The group also added new performance criteria for crash prevention technology.

“Automakers usually respond to more stringent tests by building cars that can ace them,” says Thomas. “When tests get tougher, cars get safer.”

However, the IIHS tests don’t tell the entire story, and even some TSP+ winners force buyers to pay more for safety technology. For example, the least expensive TSP+ winner, the Kia K4, has a starting price of $22,290, but shoppers will have to step up to the $23,390 LXS trim to get blind spot warning, a technology that’s proven to prevent crashes.

“Buyers shouldn’t have to pay extra for proven safety features,” says Thomas. “Safety should be standard.”

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