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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named 84 award entries to its 2025 safety-award list: 66 TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners and 18 TOP SAFETY PICK winners, according to the institute’s December 16, 2025 update. These are vehicles that met specified crash-test and active-safety thresholds—not a single ranking of America’s safest cars. IIHS compares winners within size categories, and cautions that a smaller winner may not protect occupants as well as a larger vehicle that does not win.
What the 2025 IIHS awards mean
IIHS’s TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards identify vehicle choices that meet the institute’s safety criteria for a given award year. The 2025 list is organized by vehicle size class, not as a ladder ranking every car, SUV and pickup against every other one. IIHS says, “These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year.”
The list is the live 2025 award page as accessed October 7, 2026. It includes some entries labeled 2025-26 or 2026 because ratings for later model years were added to that year page. Treat the specific year, trim and production-date notes below as part of each award, not fine print.
How TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ differ
Both awards require good ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests, as well as acceptable or good standard headlights and acceptable or good pedestrian front crash prevention. The distinction is the threshold for the updated moderate overlap front test: TOP SAFETY PICK+ requires a good rating, while TOP SAFETY PICK permits acceptable.
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- 2 IN 1 BOOSTER FUNCTIONALITY: Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat adapts as your child grows, from a forward-facing harness booster car seat (40–65 lbs., 43.4"–49") to a belt-positioning booster car seat with back for (40–100 lbs., 43.4"–52").
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- LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLE BOOSTER: Easily move this booster car seat from car to car, thanks to its lightweight design, making it ideal for busy, on-the-go families needing versatile booster seats for children 40–100 lbs.
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- EASY TO CLEAN: 2-in-1 booster car seat for forward-facing with harness and belt-positioning highback booster has a seat pad that is machine-washable and dryer-safe. The two removable cup holders are dishwasher-safe.
| 2025 award | Small overlap front | Updated moderate overlap front | Updated side | Standard headlights | Pedestrian front crash prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOP SAFETY PICK+ | Good | Good | Good | Acceptable or good | Acceptable or good |
| TOP SAFETY PICK | Good | Acceptable | Good | Acceptable or good | Acceptable or good |
IIHS said solid second-row occupant protection became a requirement for both award levels in 2025. Announcing the criteria on March 3, 2025, the institute said: “With solid protection for second-row occupants now required for both TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+, far fewer models earn accolades this year.”
2025 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK winners by size class
In the lists below, TSP means TOP SAFETY PICK and TSP+ means TOP SAFETY PICK+. Model-year spans and build-date or trim restrictions are retained from IIHS’s award page. A model listed with a year range is not necessarily covered in every configuration; confirm the exact vehicle against the live IIHS entry.
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- MADE TO BE WITH YOU FOR YEARS The Safety 1st Ellaris Convertible Car Seat is a 3 in 1 car seat that adapts to your growing little one with 3 modes of use, making Ellaris car seats a key piece of your family for years to come
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- FEDERAL SAFETY AND SIDE IMPACT STANDARDS This convertible car seat was engineered and tested to meet or exceed federal safety standards. It also meets the federal Side Impact standard
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Small cars
- Acura Integra (2025-26, TSP)
- Honda Civic hatchback (2025-26, TSP+)
- Honda Civic sedan (2025-26, TSP)
- Hyundai Elantra (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after October 2024)
- Kia K4 (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after January 2025)
- Mazda 3 hatchback (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mazda 3 sedan (2025-26, TSP+)
- Toyota Prius (2025-26, TSP+)
Midsize cars
- Honda Accord (2025-26, TSP+)
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2025, TSP+)
- Hyundai Sonata (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after November 2024)
- Toyota Camry (2025-26, TSP+)
Midsize luxury cars
- Audi all-new A5 (2025, TSP+)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2025-26, TSP+)
- Tesla Model 3 (2025, TSP)
Large cars and large luxury cars
- Genesis G80 (2026, TSP+; vehicles built after June 2025)
- Genesis G90 (2026, TSP)
- Audi A6 Sportback e-tron (2025, TSP+)
- Genesis G90 (2025, TSP)
Small SUVs
- Acura ADX (2025-26, TSP)
- Genesis GV60 (2025, TSP+)
- Honda HR-V (2025-26, TSP+)
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2025, TSP+)
- Hyundai Kona (2025-26, TSP+)
- Hyundai Tucson (2025, TSP+)
- Kia Sportage (2026, TSP+; vehicles built after May 2025)
- Mazda CX-30 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mazda CX-50 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Nissan Rogue (2026, TSP)
- Subaru Forester (2026, TSP+)
- Subaru Forester (2025, TSP; excludes Wilderness trim)
- Subaru Solterra (2025, TSP+)
- Toyota bZ4X (2025, TSP+; vehicles built after December 2024)
- Toyota Corolla Cross (2025-26, TSP)
Midsize SUVs
- Buick Enclave (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after January 2025)
- Chevrolet Traverse (2025-26, TSP)
- Ford Explorer (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after June 2025)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E (2025-26, TSP+)
- GMC Acadia (2025-26, TSP; vehicles built after January 2025)
- Honda Passport (2026, TSP+)
- Honda Pilot (2025-26, TSP)
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 (2026, TSP+)
- Hyundai Santa Fe (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after November 2024)
- Kia EV9 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Kia Sorento (2026, TSP+; vehicles built after September 2025)
- Kia Telluride (2025, TSP+)
- Mazda CX-70 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mazda CX-70 PHEV (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mazda CX-90 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mazda CX-90 PHEV (2025-26, TSP+)
- Nissan Murano (2025-26, TSP+)
- Nissan Pathfinder (2025-26, TSP+)
- Subaru Ascent (2025, TSP)
- Volkswagen Atlas (2026, TSP+)
- Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (2025-26, TSP+)
Midsize luxury SUVs
- Acura MDX (2025-26, TSP)
- Audi all-new Q5 (2025, TSP+; vehicles built after July 2025)
- Audi all-new Q5 Sportback (2025, TSP+; vehicles built after July 2025)
- Audi Q6 e-tron (2025, TSP+)
- Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron (2025, TSP+)
- BMW X3 (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after April 2025)
- BMW X5 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Genesis Electrified GV70 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Genesis GV70 (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after April 2024)
- Genesis GV80 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Infiniti QX60 (2026, TSP+)
- Infiniti QX60 (2025, TSP)
- Lexus NX (2026, TSP+)
- Lexus NX (2025, TSP)
- Lincoln Nautilus (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC (2025-26, TSP+)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (2025-26, TSP+; with optional pedestrian front crash prevention)
- Tesla Model Y (2025, TSP+)
- Volvo XC90 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after December 2024)
Large SUVs
- Audi Q7 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Infiniti QX80 (2025-26, TSP+)
- Nissan Armada (2025-26, TSP+)
- Rivian R1S (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after August 2024)
- Volvo EX90 (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after July 2024)
Pickups
- Hyundai Santa Cruz (2026, TSP; small pickup)
- Rivian R1T (2025-26, TSP; large pickup)
- Tesla Cybertruck (2025-26, TSP+; vehicles built after April 2025; large pickup)
- Toyota Tundra (2025-26, TSP+; large pickup)
How to use the list when choosing a vehicle
- Start with the size class and body style. Compare a candidate with vehicles in its own class. IIHS warns that larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones, so an award in a smaller class is not proof of equivalent protection in a larger vehicle.
- Check the precise model-year and production notes. Confirm the vehicle’s model year, build date and trim, especially when the listing specifies a cutoff or excludes a trim such as the 2025 Forester Wilderness.
- Use the award level as a threshold distinction, not an overall ranking. Under the 2025 criteria, TSP+ requires good performance in the updated moderate overlap front test where TSP allows an acceptable rating. The awards do not establish that every Plus winner is safer overall than every TSP winner across different classes.
- Check model-specific ratings for your finalists. The award summarizes whether a vehicle cleared the listed thresholds; it is not a vehicle-by-vehicle account of every test result or a guarantee about every type of collision. Consult IIHS’s current model entry for details relevant to the exact vehicle.
- Compare the vehicle to your actual needs. The list includes sedans, SUVs and pickups, as well as conventional, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric models. The award does not address local availability, pricing, ownership costs or which body style best fits a particular household.
Where to verify an award
IIHS maintains the live 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ award list and its vehicle ratings. Because the award page can include later model years and entry-specific restrictions, check it directly before treating a particular vehicle as eligible.
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Rank #3
- 2 IN 1 BOOSTER FUNCTIONALITY: Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat adapts as your child grows, from a forward-facing harness booster car seat (40–65 lbs., 43.4"–49") to a belt-positioning booster car seat with back for (40–100 lbs., 43.4"–52").
- SLIM CAR SEAT DESIGN FITS 3 ACROSS: Great for large families or carpools, this 2-in-1 booster seat for forward-facing with harness and belt-positioning booster with high back is designed to fit three across in the back seat of most vehicles.
- LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLE BOOSTER: Easily move this booster car seat from car to car, thanks to its lightweight design, making it ideal for busy, on-the-go families needing versatile booster seats for children 40–100 lbs.
- CUSTOMIZABLE SUPPORT: The adjustable headrest allows for tailored support as your child grows, providing comfort during every ride in this 2-in-1 booster car seat with a 5-point harness that converts to a belt-positioning high back booster seat.
- EASY TO CLEAN: 2-in-1 booster car seat for forward-facing with harness and belt-positioning highback booster has a seat pad that is machine-washable and dryer-safe. The two removable cup holders are dishwasher-safe.
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