IIHS data updated 2026-09-16

The safest cars you can buy in 2026

Compare current vehicles using a published formula based on IIHS tests and class-level fatality data.

Highest score 2027 Tesla Model Y 98.6/100
See the full ranking How we rank
198
Current models tracked
136
With a complete IIHS record
53
Top Safety Pick+ winners
55/25/10/10
Tests, details, pedestrian braking, class

Ratings come from IIHS vehicle pages, driver death rates from Farmer (2023), theft data from HLDI, and star ratings from NHTSA. Every figure on this site links to its source.

Top-ranked vehicles right now

Ranked by our transparent formula. When two vehicles tie on overall score, we break the tie using detailed crash-test injury measurements. Vehicles that match on both share a rank.

RankVehicleClassIIHS awardScoreInjury measures
1 2027 Tesla Model Y Midsize luxury SUVs TSP+ 98.6 100.0
2 2026 Genesis GV80 Midsize luxury SUVs TSP+ 98.6 99.38
3 2026 Lincoln Nautilus Midsize luxury SUVs TSP 98.0 99.38
4 2026 Infiniti QX60 Midsize luxury SUVs TSP+ 97.3 96.88
5 2026 BMW X3 Midsize luxury SUVs TSP+ 97.2 100.0
6 2026 Genesis GV70 Midsize luxury SUVs TSP+ 97.2 98.75
7 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 Midsize luxury SUVs TSP+ 97.2 97.5
8 2027 Kia Telluride Midsize SUVs TSP+ 96.8 100.0
8 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Midsize SUVs TSP+ 96.8 100.0
8 2026 Hyundai Palisade Midsize SUVs TSP+ 96.8 100.0
All 136 ranked vehicles Search by make or model

Safest at every price

The best score your budget can reach

Each vehicle listed here has a higher score than every lower-priced model in our dataset. Use the table to find the strongest results within your budget.

Starting priceSafest choiceClassScore
$21,700 2026 Chevrolet Trax Small SUVs 66.2
$22,290 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) Small cars 92.1
$22,600 2026 Nissan Sentra Small cars 92.2
$22,625 2026 Hyundai Elantra Small cars 94.1
$29,990 2026 Mazda CX 5 Small SUVs 94.2
$29,995 2026 Subaru Forester Small SUVs 94.3
$32,390 2026 Kia Sorento Midsize SUVs 95.4
$37,795 2026 Ford Mustang Mach E Midsize SUVs 95.6

Approximate base MSRPs excluding destination, last checked 2026-09. Confirm current pricing with a dealer.

What are you deciding?

2026 Car Safety Report: the award changes, highest-scoring models and brand comparisons in this year’s data.

A car for the familyThree-row SUVs ranked by real rear-seat passenger crash protection. A used car181 popular used models ranked by real-world driver fatality rates. A car on a budgetThe safest choice at $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000. A car for a new driverThe IIHS rules for teen drivers, applied to real prices. One specific modelEvery current model, searchable, with its full IIHS record. Theft riskThe vehicles thieves take, and the ones they leave alone. Tires and wheelsWinter tire sizes, wheel offset, tire age and stopping distance, with the math shown.

Why you can check every number here

Check every scoreEvery scoring weight and source link is public, so you can verify any vehicle's rating yourself.
Untested means untestedIf IIHS hasn't tested a vehicle, we mark it as untested rather than assuming it passed.
Honest rankingsWhen two vehicles perform identically in testing, they share the rank instead of an arbitrary tiebreaker.
Read the full method Our original research