Nine more models earn IIHS awards

Nine additional models qualify for IIHS awards

October 28, 2025

Nine additional 2025 and 2026 models qualify for awards in the latest batch of vehicle ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Top Safety Pick+ winners include the Audi All-new A5, Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, BMW X3, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia Sportage. For the X3, Sportage and Explorer, the award applies only to vehicles built after certain dates, as indicated in the table below.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan Rogue and Toyota Corolla Cross earn the lower-tier Top Safety Pickaward.

New ratings are also available for the Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, Kia EV6, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota 4Runner and Toyota Grand Highlander.

To qualify for either award this year, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front and side tests, an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation and acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels.

An acceptable rating in the moderate overlap front test is enough to qualify for Top Safety Pick, but a good rating is required for the "plus."

Most of the new award winners earn good ratings for pedestrian crash avoidance. The exception is the Santa Cruz, which is rated acceptable.

The X3 and Explorer qualify for awards thanks to improved headlight ratings following manufacturer modifications, while improved results in the side crash test boost the Corolla Cross and Rogue to award status.

Subpar performance in the moderate overlap test eliminated the Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron, EV6 and 4Runner from consideration. The 4Runner also misses the headlight requirement because it is available with poor-rated lights on some trims. An acceptable rating in the small overlap front test disqualified the Grand Highlander.

The Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron earn poor ratings in the moderate overlap test because measurements taken from the rear dummy indicated a strong likelihood of chest injuries and the rear dummy's lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, which increases the risk of abdominal injuries.

The EV6 and 4Runner earn marginal ratings in the test. In both vehicles, the rear lap belts moved from the dummy's pelvis to the abdomen. In addition, the shoulder belt in the EV6 moved too far upward toward the dummy's neck.

The Grand Highlander fell short in the small overlap test because the structure around the passenger compartment allowed too much intrusion for a good rating, although the dummy metrics did not indicate an increased risk of injury to the driver or front seat passenger.

Three current IIHS evaluations, vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0, seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use, are not part of the award criteria but are included in the table below. Consumers may wish to factor them into their purchase decisions.

Complete ratings for 15 recently tested vehicles