Fewer vehicles earn IIHS safety accolades with higher bar for backseat protection

(TNND) — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced its list of 2025 Top Safety Pick award-winning vehicles.

SUVs dominated the list, with no minicars, minivans or small pickups making the cut.

IIHS performed a pair of front-crash tests to simulate real-world scenarios of hitting a tree, utility pole or oncoming vehicle.

Side-crash protection was also tested, along with headlights and sensors in the vehicles that help drivers avoid pedestrian collisions.

Forty-eight models qualified for IIHS safety awards, down from 71 a year ago.

IIHS President David Harkey said that’s because they raised the bar on how well the winning vehicles needed to perform on backseat passenger protection.

“We've been working on this test for a few years,” he said, referencing one of their versions of the front-crash tests that underwent an update in 2022 to incorporate backseat protection. “But this was the first year where we really elevated the requirement for the vehicles to perform well in this test.”

Dummies are belted in both the driver’s seat and back seat.

Harkey said automakers, to their credit, have done a really good job at improving front-seat crash protection with seat belt technologies and airbags.

And IIHS started to see a shift in the fatality risk for belted adults from the front of the vehicle to the backseat of the vehicle.

“It's important that we're protecting all passengers in the vehicle, and that's really what we're trying to achieve,” he said.

The backseat is still the safest place for children 13 and younger, Harkey said.

No minivans or small crew cab pickups earned awards, which Harkey said was disappointing.

But a lot of SUVs from a range of sizes and price points did make the list.

“That is an encouraging sign for those that are looking for a family-hauler vehicle,” Harkey said of the SUVs.

Collision-avoidance technology keeps improving, he said.

And gone are the days of poorly performing headlights.

Harkey said “safety equity” will be important going forward. Families shouldn't have to buy the most expensive vehicle to get a safe vehicle, he said.

And he said IIHS will look for crash protection and collision avoidance improvements with higher speeds and new tests for cars that include scenarios with motorcycles, large trucks and turning vehicles.

IIHS named winners in two categories, its 2025 "Top Safety Pick" award and its highest tier "Top Safety Pick+" award.

Thirty-six vehicles earned the highest award, Top Safety Pick+.

A dozen more were named Top Safety Pick winners.

Top Safety Pick+

Small cars

• Honda Civic hatchback
• Mazda 3 hatchback
• Mazda 3 sedan

Midsize cars

• Honda Accord
• Hyundai Ioniq 6
• Toyota Camry

Midsize luxury car

• Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Small SUVs

• Genesis GV60
• Honda HR-V
• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Hyundai Kona
• Hyundai Tucson
• Mazda CX-30
• Mazda CX-50
• Subaru Solterra

Midsize SUVs

• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Hyundai Santa Fe built after November 2024
• Kia EV9
• Kia Telluride
• Mazda CX-70
• Mazda CX-70 PHEV
• Mazda CX-90
• Mazda CX-90 PHEV
• Nissan Pathfinder

Midsize luxury SUVs

• BMW X5
• Genesis Electrified GV70
• Genesis GV70 built after April 2024
• Genesis GV80
• Lincoln Nautilus
• Mercedes-Benz GLC
• Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with optional front crash prevention
• Volvo XC90 built before December 2024

Large SUVs

• Audi Q7
• Infiniti QX80
• Rivian R1S built after August 2024

Large pickup

• Toyota Tundra crew cab

Top Safety Pick

Small cars

• Acura Integra hatchback
• Honda Civic sedan

Large luxury car

• Genesis G90

Small SUVs

• Subaru Forester excludes Wilderness trim

Midsize SUVs

• Chevrolet Traverse
• Honda Pilot
• Subaru Ascent

Midsize luxury SUVs

• Acura MDX
• Infiniti QX60
• Lexus NX
• Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid built before December 2024

Large pickup

• Rivian R1T