10 of the Safest New Cars & SUVs You Can Buy Today

Justin S
Created by: Sep 23, 2026 | Modified by: Sep 23, 2026

Buying a new vehicle consists of evaluating various vehicle characteristics such as fuel economy, comfort, horsepower, reliability and most importantly, safety. While cars may excel in various categories, the thing that most consumers want to know is if the car is safe. Nowadays the word safety can refer to a number of things, such as how well the car will do in a crash; however, a new technology was recently created that can help you identify how well the car may help you avoid one in the first place.

 

Modern vehicles are packed with technology designed not only to protect occupants when a crash happens but increasingly to help prevent the crash from happening in the first place. Cameras, radar, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure prevention and increasingly sophisticated airbag systems have transformed the modern automobile into something that is considerably more capable of protecting its occupants than older vehicles.

 

Of course, no vehicle is immune from being involved in accidents; physics still wins eventually. But a modern vehicle equipped with the latest safety systems, combined with a properly worn seat belt, can give occupants several layers of protection that simply weren't available a few decades ago.

 

The following ten vehicles are examples of current models that have earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation for the 2026 model year. IIHS evaluates vehicles with crash tests and tests of crash-avoidance systems, and its 2026 Top Safety Pick+ criteria include good ratings in the small-overlap, moderate-overlap and side crash tests; acceptable or good headlights; good pedestrian front crash prevention, and acceptable or good vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0.

 

It is worth remembering that IIHS does not consider a small car automatically equivalent to a larger vehicle simply because both receive the same award. The organization specifically notes that larger, heavier vehicles generally provide greater protection in crashes.

 

1. Mazda 3 sedan & Hatchback.

 

The Mazda 3 does not only offer an engaging driving experience, but it is also amongst the safest vehicles on the market today. The brand has worked tirelessly to perfect various safety technologies, catapulting to the top spot for the IIHS compact car category.

 

That is significant because smaller cars generally have less mass than larger SUVs. IIHS points out that vehicle size and weight still matter in crashes, which makes strong structural performance and effective restraint systems especially important in smaller vehicles.

 

2. Toyota Camry

 

The Toyota Camry has spent decades being known more for reliability and practicality than for excitement, but its safety credentials are impressive. The 2026 Camry was awarded as the Top Safety Pick+ within the midsize sedan category by IIHS. It combines a strong passenger compartment with modern driver-assistance technology designed to help avoid crashes in the first place.

 

That combination is important. A vehicle doesn't become truly safe simply because its passenger structure is strong enough to survive a crash. Preventing the crash in the first place is even better and being able to do all of that without paying a premium for a luxury car is even better.

 

3. Audi A5 4-door sedan

 

The Audi A5 wins in the midsize luxury car segment. It was designated as IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus for the 2026 model year. They were able to do this by using advanced accident voidance technology and a complete redesign in 2025. By using advanced precision engineering, the car scored “G” (Good) in all IIHS crash tests.

 

4. Audi A6 4-door sedan

 

Just like its smaller brother, the Audi A6 wins in the large luxury car segment. It was designated as IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 model year. They were able to accomplish the best scores by employing some of the same engineering, technology and build materials as they have on the A5.

 

5. Subaru Forester

 

Subaru has built a reputation around safety and all-weather capability, and the Forester continues that tradition. The 2026 Forester is a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle in the small SUV category.

 

One of the interesting things about modern Subaru safety technology is how much of the safety package is designed around preventing collisions. Driver-assistance systems can monitor the road ahead and help detect potential hazards before the driver has time to react.

 

6. Mazda CX-70

 

The Mazda CX-70 is another example of a vehicle combining SUV practicality with a strong emphasis on occupant protection. The 2026 CX-50 earned Top Safety Pick+ recognition from IIHS in the midsize SUV category.

 

The CX-70 is particularly interesting because it isn't an enormous SUV. It provides useful cargo and passenger space without moving into the dimensions of a full-size sport utility vehicle.

 

7. Tesla Model Y

 

For EV shoppers, the 2026 Tesla Model Y is a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle in the midsize luxury SUV segment. Multiple EVs have scored good in multiple crash test categories. The advantage of some of these cars comes in the fact that the space in front of the passenger cabin is not occupied by bulky drivetrain components and can be fortified to better withstand front-end collisions.

 

8. Rivian R1s SUV

 

For buyers who want something larger, the 2026 Rivian R1s is a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle in the large luxury SUV segment. Similar to the Tesla Model Y, the R1 benefits from not having a gasoline engine stuffed under the hood. Additionally, all models built after August of 2024 benefit from a reinforced front body structure, making them very good in front driver-side and small overlap frontal collisions.

 

9. Volvo EX90

 

Volvo has spent decades building its brand around automotive safety, and the electric EX90 continues that tradition. The 2026 Volvo EX90 is another one of the large SUVs earning IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition.

 

The EX90 is also an example of how advanced engineering and modern safety technology have become. Modern vehicles can use multiple sensors and cameras to monitor the environment around the vehicle and provide warnings or intervention when a potential collision is detected.

 

10. Tesla Cybertruck crew cab pickup

 

While some may argue that the Cybertruck does not belong in the pickup truck category nevertheless the IIHS has rated it as a Top Safety Pick+ for the pickup truck segment.

 

Its inclusion is notable because electric vehicles have become an increasingly important part of the new-car market. The Cybertruck demonstrates that an electric powertrain and a strong focus on occupant protection can coexist.

 

As with every vehicle, however, its safety performance should be considered alongside its size, weight, seating position and the specific safety systems included on the vehicle being purchased.

 

The Bottom Line

 

Modern vehicles are safer than ever, and the improvements aren't limited to stronger steel and larger airbags. Today's best-performing vehicles combine sophisticated crash structures using advanced composites and alloys with multiple airbags, active seat-belt systems, electronic stability control, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and other technologies designed to either prevent a collision or reduce its consequences.

 

The 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ list includes vehicles ranging from the relatively affordable Mazda3 to the more expensive Volvo EX90. Regardless of which option you choose or your budgetary restriction, there is a safe new vehicle other than that which meets your needs.

 

While car manufacturers have used technology to add and improve various safety features, there is one piece of safety equipment that remains remarkably difficult to improve upon: the seat belt. NHTSA's data makes the point better than any sales brochure can. Nearly half of the passenger-vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2024 were unrestrained, despite decades of evidence showing how dramatically seat belts reduce the risk of fatal and serious injuries.

 

So, if you're buying a new vehicle, look at the crash-test results and safety technology. They matter. But before you drive that new car off the lot, there is one thing worth doing every single time you get behind the wheel. Reach over, pull the belt across your chest, click it into place and make sure everyone else in the vehicle does the same.