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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIIHS ratings are a set of separate measurements, not a single “safest minivan” score. For a family, the useful reading combines crashworthiness (including the updated rear-seat test), crash avoidance and headlights, and the practical details of child-seat anchors in the exact model year and trim. A Good LATCH grade means the vehicle hardware is relatively easy to use; it does not prove that your particular child seat fits every seating position.
What an IIHS minivan rating actually measures
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) publishes separate grades for several aspects of a vehicle. The familiar scale is Good (G), Acceptable (A), Marginal (M), Poor (P), plus entries for vehicles that were not tested or not rated. A class-page summary is useful for screening minivans, but the individual vehicle page contains the details that determine whether a result applies to the vehicle you are considering.
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| IIHS measure | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Small-overlap front | How the occupant compartment and restraints perform when the vehicle’s front corner strikes a rigid barrier. | Compare among vehicles of similar weight; the overall grade is the lower of the driver- and passenger-side results. |
| Updated moderate-overlap front | Front and rear occupant protection in a 40 mph crash with 40% of the vehicle’s front overlapping a deformable barrier. | Pay attention to the rear-dummy injury measures, not just the front-seat result. |
| Updated side | Protection in a side impact from an SUV-like striking vehicle traveling 37 mph. | Use the grade as one part of an overall crashworthiness comparison. |
| Crash prevention | Performance in controlled approaches to targets such as another vehicle, motorcycle, semitrailer or pedestrian. | Check which technology is standard or optional on the trim you would buy. |
| Headlights | How well the lamps illuminate straight roads and curves. | Consider the grade separately from automatic emergency braking or other avoidance systems. |
| Seat-belt reminders | How effectively the vehicle reminds occupants to buckle up. | It is a separate safety feature, not a crash-test grade. |
| Child-seat anchors (LATCH) | Ease of finding and using the vehicle’s lower and tether anchors. | Use the individual page to see which seating positions were evaluated and what hardware each contains. |
Ratings can change as IIHS adds tests or evaluates a new model year. The model year, build configuration, trim and equipment package shown on the individual page control whether the result applies to the vehicle on a dealer’s lot. Do not turn a class table into a permanent claim that one make is universally safest.
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Current IIHS minivan results: a mixed picture
The minivan class summary checked on October 13, 2026 listed the following model-year examples. These are the grades shown at that time; IIHS can update the table or add a different model year.
#1 Best Overall
- Convertible car seat grows with your child from rear-facing harness (4-50 lb) to forward-facing harness (26.5-65 lb)
- Extend2Fit 4-position adjustable extension panel provides up to 5" additional legroom, allowing your child to safely ride rear-facing longer
- Up to 50 lb rear-facing, allowing your child to safely ride rear-facing longer
- Graco ProtectPlus Engineered to the newest testing standards for side and frontal impact, and beyond—because the safety of your child shouldn’t stop at the standard
- No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust Harness System allows the headrest and harness to adjust together in one motion
| Model as listed by IIHS | Small overlap | Updated moderate overlap | Updated side | LATCH ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota Sienna | Good | Marginal | Good | Good+ |
| 2027 Honda Odyssey | Good | Poor | Good | Good+ |
| 2026 Chrysler Voyager | Good | Not tested | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| 2027 Chrysler Pacifica | Good | Marginal | Acceptable | Not rated |
| 2026 Kia Carnival | Good | Marginal | Acceptable | Acceptable |
There is no honest way to collapse those columns into one winner. For example, a minivan can have a Good small-overlap result and a weak or unavailable updated moderate-overlap result. LATCH can be Good+ on one model and not rated on another without saying anything about whether a particular rear-facing or booster seat will fit. Compare the tests that matter for your passengers, then verify the exact child-restraint positions.
How the crash tests work
Small-overlap front test
IIHS drives the vehicle at 40 mph into a rigid barrier with 25% of the vehicle’s width striking on one side. Driver- and passenger-side tests may produce different results, so the overall rating is the lower of the two. Because vehicle mass affects the forces in a crash, IIHS says to compare small- and moderate-overlap front ratings only among vehicles of similar weight.
Updated moderate-overlap front test
The updated test uses a 40 mph impact with 40% overlap into a deformable barrier. It adds a second-row dummy representing a small woman or a 12-year-old child seated behind the driver. Measurements focus on injury risks that are common for rear occupants as well as the protection of the front occupant. This is why a front-seat-oriented rating cannot stand in for rear-seat protection.
Rank #2
- 3-in-1 car seat grows with your child from rear-facing harness (5-40 lb) to forward-facing harness (26.5-65 lb) to highback booster (40-100 lb)
- Graco ProtectPlus Engineered: a combination of the most rigorous crash tests that help to protect your child in frontal, side, rear & rollover crashes
- No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust Harness System allows the headrest and harness to adjust together in one motion
- Choose the perfect headrest height from 10 positions to get the safest fit for your growing child
- 6-position recline keeps your child comfy and helps for a better installation
Updated side test
The side-impact rig is designed to resemble an SUV-like vehicle and strikes at 37 mph. The result is a separate side-crash grade; it should be read alongside front-crash results rather than substituted for them.
Crash avoidance and headlights
Crash-prevention evaluations use controlled approaches to targets including vehicles, motorcycles, semitrailers and pedestrians. Look at the equipment listed for the evaluated vehicle: a system that is optional on a higher trim may not be present on the base minivan you are comparing. Headlight testing covers illumination on straight roads and curves, so its grade addresses visibility rather than the operation of automatic braking.
Why the rear-seat test matters to families
IIHS revised the moderate-overlap test in 2022 because improvements in front-seat protection had not necessarily carried over to the rear. The added rear dummy makes the result more relevant to families, but it does not change the basic seating recommendation for young passengers. In its 2025 awards article, IIHS stated: “Regardless of a vehicle’s performance in the updated test, the second row remains the safest position for children under 13.”
Rank #3
- 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
- 3 WAYS TO USE The Safety 1st Ellaris Convertible Car Seat offers extended use as a rear facing car seat with Rear-Facing Infant (5–30 lbs.) and Rear-Facing Toddler (30–40 lbs.), and as a forward facing car seat (30–65 lbs.)
- COMFORT AND FLEXIBILITY This convertible slim car seat has a slim design for more space, and its easily adjustable 5-position headrest and harness provide a comfortable ride as your little one grows
- 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
- ADDITIONAL FEATURES YOU’LL LOVE Baby car seat with machine-washable and dryer-safe seat pad; 2 removable, dishwasher-safe cup holders; Hook-style LATCH for easy installation; Airplane ready, compact design for travel from the airport to the flight
The same article reported that around 60% of the 2025 models tested earned Acceptable or Good ratings in the updated moderate-overlap test. That figure describes IIHS’s 2025 group of tested models, not every minivan or every vehicle sold today. The article also reported that among models tested for 2023, 2024 and 2025, no minivan received a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award. IIHS President David Harkey characterized the award results this way: “The new emphasis on back seat protection appears to have winnowed minivans and pickups from the winners’ ranks,” adding that this was unfortunate because minivans are marketed as family haulers. Treat that as an observation about that awards pool, not a timeless ranking of all minivans.
What a LATCH grade tells you—and what it does not
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. IIHS’s LATCH assessment is an ease-of-use evaluation of the vehicle hardware: whether anchors are easy to locate, access and use, and whether the tether anchor is clearly identified. It is not a crash test of a child seat and not a certification that a specific seat fits every position.
The class-page grade can hide important differences. Open the individual vehicle page and check the evaluated trim and seat material, the number of positions with complete hardware, and whether a position uses borrowed lower anchors. A complete position has the lower anchors and a tether anchor needed for the applicable installation. A tether-only position is different. IIHS also warns that borrowed lower anchors cannot serve both designated positions at the same time; when a position borrows one lower anchor from an adjacent position, the original position cannot simultaneously use that anchor.
Rank #4
- Grows Through 3 Stages: This Safety 1st convertible car seat is a 3-in-1 design carrying a child from 5 to 100 lb, rear-facing right up to the booster years
- QuickFit Harness System: Headrest and straps raise together with one up-front motion, so there is no rethreading to do when your child hits a growth spurt
- No-Hassle Setup: Install with a vehicle seatbelt or lower Latch anchors and top tether, then use harness holders, a three-position recline, and removable baby pillows to customize the fit for your child
- Easy-Clean, Removable Seat Pad: The machine-washable, dryer-safe cushion unclips without removing the harness, and 2 dishwasher-safe cup holders rinse clean after snack time
- Side Impact Protection: Engineered and tested to meet or exceed federal safety standards. Meets federal Side Impact standard
| Vehicle example | Evaluated configuration | Hardware details reported by IIHS | LATCH result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota Sienna | LE trim with cloth seats; evaluation applies to 2021–26 models | Five rear positions with complete child-seat attachment hardware. One additional position has a tether anchor, one lower anchor and can borrow the other lower anchor. | Good+ |
| 2025 Chrysler Pacifica | Touring L with leather seats | Three positions with complete LATCH hardware. The page’s ratings do not apply to Voyager. | Acceptable |
| 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz | Pro S configuration with leatherette | Five rear positions with complete hardware; the page lists additional LATCH positions for this configuration. | Good+ (with the listed extra positions) |
These examples show why “Which minivan has the best LATCH rating?” is an incomplete question. A Good+ grade may be convenient, but the number and location of usable anchors, the seat configuration and the exact trim determine whether it helps your family’s seating plan.
Good LATCH does not guarantee child-seat fit
A child restraint can be installed with lower anchors or with the vehicle seat belt, according to the instructions for that particular restraint and vehicle. NHTSA does not treat LATCH as inherently safer than a correctly installed belt. Lower-anchor weight limits are set by the vehicle and child-seat manufacturers. When the applicable lower-anchor limit is reached, install the seat with the vehicle belt if the child remains within the seat’s own height and weight limits.
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Fit is a vehicle-seat combination question. Check whether the restraint’s base sits flat, whether the recline angle is allowed, whether a neighboring seat or door interferes, and whether the vehicle manual permits that position. A model-level LATCH grade cannot answer those questions.
Best Value
- Grows Through 3 Stages: This Safety 1st convertible car seat is a 3-in-1 design carrying a child from 5 to 100 lb, rear-facing right up to the booster years
- QuickFit Harness System: Headrest and straps raise together with one up-front motion, so there is no rethreading to do when your child hits a growth spurt
- No-Hassle Setup: Install with a vehicle seatbelt or lower Latch anchors and top tether, then use harness holders, a three-position recline, and removable baby pillows to customize the fit for your child
- Easy-Clean, Removable Seat Pad: The machine-washable, dryer-safe cushion unclips without removing the harness, and 2 dishwasher-safe cup holders rinse clean after snack time
- Side Impact Protection: Engineered and tested to meet or exceed federal safety standards. Meets federal Side Impact standard
A practical minivan and child-seat decision process
- Define the passengers. Choose restraints by each child’s age and size. Keep a child in each stage—rear-facing, forward-facing with a harness, then a booster—as long as the restraint manufacturer’s height and weight limits allow.
- Start with the IIHS model-year page. Record small-overlap, updated moderate-overlap, updated side, crash-prevention, headlight and LATCH results for the exact model year. Confirm whether the rating applies to the trim and equipment you will buy.
- Prioritize rear-seat protection. Read the updated moderate-overlap result and its rear-occupant information. Keep children in the second row; NHTSA advises the back seat through at least age 12.
- Map your seating positions. On the individual IIHS page and in the owner’s manual, mark every position with two lower anchors and a tether, tether-only positions, and any position that borrows an anchor. Do not count one borrowed anchor for two seats at once.
- Read both manuals before installation. The vehicle manual controls permitted seating locations and anchor use; the child-seat manual controls routing, recline, harness or belt fit, and the seat’s own limits.
- Choose an installation method. Use lower anchors only within both manufacturers’ limits. Otherwise use the vehicle belt as directed. For a forward-facing seat, attach and tighten the tether whenever both manuals permit or require it; the tether limits forward head movement in a crash.
- Install and test at the belt path. After tightening, pull the restraint where the belt or lower-anchor webbing passes through it. It should move no more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back.
- Check the final arrangement. Confirm that front seats do not push against a rear-facing restraint beyond the vehicle or seat manufacturer’s allowance, harness straps are routed as directed, and every passenger can buckle up without displacing a child seat.
- Get an in-person inspection if uncertain. A trained Child Passenger Safety Technician can check the installation. NHTSA notes that many local fire and police stations offer free inspections, although availability varies by location.
How to compare two minivans without overreading the table
| Decision axis | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Crashworthiness | How do small-overlap, updated moderate-overlap and side grades compare? Are the vehicles close enough in weight for a meaningful front-overlap comparison? |
| Rear-seat protection | Was the updated moderate-overlap test performed, and what does the rear-dummy result show? |
| Crash avoidance and visibility | Which crash-prevention system and headlight grade apply to the trim you can actually buy? Is the equipment standard or optional? |
| Child-seat practicality | How many complete positions exist, where are the tether anchors, how accessible are the lower anchors, and are any anchors borrowed? |
| Actual restraint fit | Does each child seat fit the chosen position under both manuals, with the required angle, belt path and clearance? |
Use “not tested” and “not rated” literally. They are not the same as Good, and they do not establish a poor result either. They mean you need other evidence—especially the vehicle manual and an in-person fit check—before treating that area as settled.
Common mistakes and how to correct them
- Picking a single class winner: Replace a one-number verdict with a side-by-side review of the relevant crash, avoidance and child-seat measures.
- Comparing unlike front-crash results: Keep small- and moderate-overlap comparisons within vehicles of similar weight.
- Assuming Good+ LATCH means universal compatibility: Verify the exact seating position, trim, child-seat limits and both manuals.
- Counting borrowed anchors twice: Treat a borrowed lower anchor as available to only one designated position at a time.
- Ignoring model-year and trim limits: Re-open the current IIHS page immediately before purchase; ratings and listed model years can change.
- Using anchors past their limits: Switch to the vehicle belt when the lower-anchor limit is reached, while staying within the child seat’s limits.
- Accepting excessive movement: If the installed seat moves more than one inch at the belt path, consult both manuals and have a technician inspect it.
- Moving children forward too soon: Keep them rear-facing, forward-facing or in a booster for as long as the manufacturer’s height and weight limits permit, and keep them in the back seat through at least age 12.
The bottom line for minivan shoppers
Read IIHS ratings as a set of answers: how the minivan performs in different crashes, how it avoids some crashes, how well its headlights illuminate the road, and how usable its child-seat hardware is. The updated moderate-overlap result adds important rear-seat evidence, but it does not replace the second-row recommendation for children under 13. A Good LATCH grade is a convenience signal, not a fit guarantee. The safest practical choice is the minivan whose model-year and trim-specific ratings meet your priorities and whose exact second-row positions can accept your child’s restraint correctly under both manuals.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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