IIHS Top Vehicle Safety Picks Of 2018

Car Safety Ratings For 2018 Vehicles

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides vehicle ratings each year using high-speed front and side crash tests to determine vehicle safety. The IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. Car ratings for vehicles not specified below, as well as prior years' top picks, can be found on the IIHS website.

To qualify for a 2018 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in five crashworthiness tests—small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints—as well as a basic rating for front crash prevention.

2018 Top Safety Picks By Category

Small Cars

Chevrolet Volt (with optional front crash prevention)

Hyundai Elantra (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Kia Forte (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights; applies only to sedans)

Kia Soul (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Mazda 3
sedan | hatchback
(with specific headlights)

Subaru Crosstek (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Subaru Impreza
sedan | wagon
(with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Subaru WRX (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius Prime

Midsize Cars

Honda Accord (with specific headlights)

Hyundai Sonata (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Kia Optima (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Nissan Altima (with specific headlights)

Nissan Maxima (with specific headlights)

Subaru Legacy
(with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Subaru Outback
(with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Toyota Camry
(with specific headlights)

Midsize Luxury

Alfa Romeo Giulia (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Audi A3 (with specific headlights)

Audi A4 (with specific headlights)

BMW 2 series (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

BMW 3 series (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Lexus ES 350 (with specific headlights)

Lexus IS

Volvo S60 (with specific headlights)

Volvo V60 (with specific headlights)

Large Cars

Kia Cadenza (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Toyota Avalon (with specific headlights)

Large Luxury Cars

Acura RLX

BMW 5 Series (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Genesis G80 (with specific headlights)

Genesis G90

Lexus RC (with specific headlights)

Lincoln Continental (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (with specific headlights)

Small SUVs

Honda CR-V (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Hyundai Tucson (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Kia Sportage (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Mazda CX-3
(with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Mazda CX-5
(with specific headlights)

Mitsubishi Outlander (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Nissan Rogue (with specific headlights)

Subaru Forester
(with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Toyota RAV4 (with specific headlights)

Midsize SUVs

Honda Pilot (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Hyundai Santa Fe (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Kia Sorento (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Mazda CX-9 (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Toyota Highlander

Midsize Luxury SUVs

Acura MDX

Acura RDX (with optional front crash prevention)

BMW X3 (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Buick Envision (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Lexus NX

Lexus RX (with specific headlights)

Mercedes-Benz GLC (with specific headlights)

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Volvo XC60 (with specific headlights)

Minivans

Chrysler Pacifica (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Honda Odyssey (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Kia Sedona (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

Large Pickups

Honda Ridgeline (with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)

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