Top 12 Safest Cars in America: IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winners

When it comes to choosing a new car, nothing matters more than safety and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award highlights the vehicles that offer the highest level of crash protection and accident avoidance tech. These 12 winners stand out for their exceptional engineering, advanced driver-assist systems, and proven real-world safety performance. If you want peace of mind on every drive, start here.

Honda Civic (Hatchback & Sedan)

The Civic is like that overachiever friend who is good at everything and you kind of wish they would chill. It is a compact, sure, but the 2025 Civic hatchback and sedan both snag Top Safety Pick Plus under the new, stricter IIHS rules, which is a big deal because the tests got tougher, especially for rear seat protection and side impacts. You are looking at roughly 25,000 to 32,000 dollars depending on trim, and for that you get a car that scores Good in the nasty overlap crash tests, has solid standard headlights, and proper crash avoidance tech like automatic emergency braking that actually sees pedestrians. It is one of those cars where, if you are buying for a new driver or small family, your brain relaxes a little because you know it has aced basically every wall they threw it at.

Mazda3 (Sedan & Hatchback)

The Mazda3 is that artsy kid who also turns out to be top of the class in safety, which feels a bit unfair. Both the sedan and hatchback versions earn Top Safety Pick Plus for 2025, and that is after IIHS started demanding better rear seat protection and tougher side impact performance. Price wise, you are sitting in the 27,000 to 35,000 dollars zone depending on trim, and inside it feels almost premium while still having all the safety stuff quietly running in the background, strong crash structure, good headlights, and smart driver assistance systems. Not gonna lie, if you want something that drives nicely, looks good, and still makes your safety conscious brain happy, the Mazda3 is one of the nicest responsible but not boring choices out there.

Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra is one of those cars where you look at the price, then at the safety rating, and go, okay, how is this still considered budget. The 2025 Elantra picks up a Top Safety Pick Plus as well, especially in models built after late 2024 when Hyundai updated things like structure and headlights to meet the new criteria. You are talking roughly 23,000 to 30,000 dollars depending on trim, and in exchange you get good scores in the updated moderate overlap test, strong side impact performance, and pedestrian detection that does not just give up at night. It is one of those my parents would approve cars that still has enough style and tech that you do not feel like you settled, even though you kind of bought the smart, sensible option.

Toyota Prius

The new Prius is in this funny place where it went from Uber special to kind of futuristic and cool, and now it is also one of the safest small cars you can buy. It grabs a Top Safety Pick Plus for 2025, thanks to strong crash test performance and decent headlights and crash avoidance systems. You are probably looking at somewhere around 30,000 to 37,000 dollars depending on the trim and options, which is not dirt cheap, but you are getting insane fuel economy plus the smug satisfaction of a hybrid that also does really well in the nasty IIHS tests. If your vibe is I want to hurt the gas stations and survive bad drivers, the Prius is weirdly perfect now.

Kia K4

The K4 is the new kid replacing the Forte, and it showed up like, hi, I am here to take this seriously. The 2025 Kia K4 earns Top Safety Pick Plus for cars built after January 2025, which means it nailed the updated moderate overlap front test and did at least Acceptable in the remaining stuff like pedestrian crash avoidance and headlights. Price wise it is in that 24,000 to 31,000 dollars range for most trims, so very normal compact money, but with safety credentials that are basically right up there with the Civic and Mazda3. If you want something a bit different from the usual Honda and Toyota suspects but still want the gold star from IIHS, the K4 is a super interesting left field pick.

Kia EV9

The EV9 is like, yeah I am an electric three row SUV but also built like a tank, thanks. It is a big family hauler that still manages a Top Safety Pick Plus rating, which is impressive given the weight and size. You are easily in the 60,000 to 80,000 dollars bracket depending on range and trim, so it is not exactly budget, but you are getting a super rigid structure, loads of airbags, and advanced driver assistance systems tuned to keep all three rows of people out of trouble. For someone doing family road trips, school runs, and Target parking lots with a bunch of kids on board, having one of the safest midsize SUVs on the new tougher list is a huge comfort.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Ioniq 5 is that retro futuristic EV that looks like a concept car someone accidentally approved for production, and it is also properly safe. It earns a Top Safety Pick Plus as a small SUV, with strong crash scores and good performance in pedestrian protection and headlights, which is getting harder under the new IIHS rules. Price wise you are talking somewhere around 45,000 to 60,000 dollars depending on battery and trim, but you get a flat floor spacious cabin, loads of airbags, and a ton of assist systems like lane centering and adaptive cruise that actually take the edge off long drives. If you want something that feels like the future but still protects like a paranoid parent, the Ioniq 5 is right there.

Mazda CX 50

The CX 50 is like Mazda looked at the whole rugged SUV trend and went, okay bet, but we are still going to make it nice to drive. It also lands a Top Safety Pick Plus in the small SUV category, meaning it did great in the crash tests and has good or acceptable headlights and strong crash avoidance tech. Expect prices in the 32,000 to 42,000 dollars range, and inside it feels kind of outdoorsy but premium at the same time, so you can go camping without feeling like you downgraded from a nice car. If you want something safe that still has a bit of personality and does not drive like a marshmallow, the CX 50 is a really sweet spot.

Nissan Murano

The Murano is one of those quietly updated and suddenly very safe midsize SUVs. The all new 2025 Murano earns Top Safety Pick Plus under the new criteria, which means it nailed the updated moderate overlap front test that now checks how the rear passengers do as well. You are in the ballpark of 40,000 to 50,000 dollars depending on trim, and while it is not the flashiest thing on the road, it is comfy, smooth, and loaded with safety tech like automatic emergency braking and lane keeping that actually works in daily driving. If your brain says I just want a safe, easy family SUV and I do not care about track times, the Murano is low drama and high peace of mind.

Toyota Tundra (Crew Cab)

And yeah, there is even a pickup in here, because apparently truck people like to survive crashes too. The 2025 Toyota Tundra crew cab earns a Top Safety Pick Plus, which is pretty rare in the truck world where a lot of stuff still struggles with things like small overlap crashes and pedestrian protection. You are usually looking at 50,000 to 70,000 dollars depending on trim and how excited you get with options, but you get a tough frame, good crash test performance, and solid front crash prevention systems that help when someone cuts across you while you are hauling. So if you are towing, working, or just like sitting way up high and feeling invincible, this is one of the few pickups that actually backs that feeling up with hard safety data.