2025’s Most Protective Cars: Top 12 IIHS Safety Winners
Safety takes center stage in 2025. The IIHS highlights the top 12 cars setting new protection standards, especially for back seat passengers, proving that modern vehicles can be stylish and secure.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Dude, the Ioniq 5 is like this electric crossover that’s fast, roomy, and now crushing IIHS tests with top marks for back seat crashes too. That updated moderate overlap test? Nailed it, good rating all around. Supercharging is quick, interior feels futuristic but chill, and around $42,000 base, it’s a steal for an EV that doesn’t skimp on safety. Honestly, if you’re going electric family hauler, this one’s hard to beat, feels premium without the Tesla drama.
Mazda CX-50
Mazda’s on fire this year, snagging like eight awards, and the CX-50’s one of ’em. Handles like a dream, turbo option if you want pep, but even base is plenty. Back seat protection? Gold star from IIHS, which is huge for taller kids or whatever. Starts around $30k, rides smooth on highways, and that interior? Classy without trying too hard. I mean, it’s basically a wagon pretending to be rugged, love it.
Honda Civic
The Civic sedan and hatch both got Top Safety Pick+, which surprises me a bit ’cause it’s so affordable, like $25,000 new. But yeah, killer crash scores, pedestrian avoidance on point, and now the rear passengers are way better protected in those overlap tests. It’s zippy, efficient, fun to drive daily, why pay more for “fancy” when this base model does everything right? Practicality king.
Kia Telluride
Okay, the Telluride’s been a fave, but 2025 version steps up big for back seats, good ratings where it counts. Three rows, tons of space, looks tough but rides comfy. Around $37k to start, and it’s got that upscale vibe inside without luxury prices. Not gonna lie, if family’s the game, this over the fancy Europeans every time, safer, cheaper to run, done.
Toyota Prius
Prius is back, electric-hybrid smooth, and IIHS loves it for 2025 with top crash prevention and rear protection upgrades. MPG in the 50s, quiet as heck, starts at like $28k. Yeah, it’s not sporty, but who cares when it’s this safe and sippy? Kinda rethinking my “boring” take, the new one’s sharper looking too.
Subaru Solterra
Subaru’s EV twin to the bZ4X, all-wheel drive standard, which helps in sketchy weather, and IIHS gave it the plus for back seat safety. Range’s decent, charging’s fast-ish, around $45k. Feels planted, tech’s solid, perfect if you want Subaru reliability in electric form without the gas worries.
Genesis GV60
Luxury EV small SUV, but Genesis nailed the tests, especially that rear dummy protection. Plush interior, quick accel, starts around $53k. It’s like Hyundai on steroids, fancy without the unreliability rep. If you got the cash, this screams “safe baller.”
Hyundai Tucson
Tucson’s everywhere for a reason, versatile, good looking, and now IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with strong back seat scores. Hybrid option’s efficient, around $29k base. Roomy, tech-loaded, drives nice, underrated daily warrior, honestly.
Mazda CX-90
Big three-row Mazda, PHEV available, and it aced the updated side and front tests for passengers front and back. Smooth V6 or plug-in, starts at $40k-ish. Feels premium, handles better than most in class, Mazda magic without the fluff.
Kia EV9
Massive three-row EV, insane range, and IIHS loves the back seat crash protection. Towing capability too, around $55k. Family hauler that doesn’t suck to drive, spacious, quick, future-proof. Wild how Kia’s jumping ahead.
Honda HR-V
Small SUV done right, subcompact but punches above with Top Safety Pick+, great rear ratings. AWD option, practical cargo, $25k start. Nimble in city, safe everywhere, no-brainer for young families or solo types.
Nissan Murano
Midsize crossover refresh, smooth CVT, comfy ride, and snagged recent IIHS nod for back seats. Around $40k, quiet highway cruiser with style. Not flashy, but solid, grows on you quick.
