Choosing a new vehicle is one of the most important safety decisions drivers make. As personal injury attorneys, we regularly see how the design, size, and safety technology of a vehicle can influence the severity of injuries in a crash. While no car can prevent every accident, vehicles with strong safety ratings and advanced driver-assistance systems can significantly reduce the risk of serious harm.
For drivers shopping in 2025 or 2026, automotive safety standards continue to evolve. Crash tests are more demanding, and newer vehicles are being evaluated for how well they protect occupants in real-world collision scenarios, including side impacts and nighttime pedestrian crashes. In this guide, we break down the safest cars for 2025–2026 based on the most recent evaluations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
This article is designed to help families, commuters, and everyday drivers understand which vehicles offer the strongest protection — and why those safety choices matter when accidents happen.
How Vehicle Safety Is Measured in 2025 and 2026
Modern vehicle safety ratings go far beyond airbags and seatbelts. Organizations like IIHS and NHTSA test vehicles for crashworthiness, meaning how well the vehicle protects occupants during a collision, as well as crash avoidance, which evaluates how effectively the vehicle helps drivers avoid accidents altogether.
The IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards are among the most respected benchmarks in the industry. To earn these designations, vehicles must perform well in front, side, rear, and rollover crash tests. They must also demonstrate effective automatic emergency braking, including the ability to detect pedestrians in low-light conditions. NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Rating system focuses on frontal crashes, side crashes, and rollover risk, offering a clear government-issued evaluation of overall safety performance.
Vehicles that score highly across both systems tend to offer the most comprehensive protection for drivers and passengers alike.
Why Safety Ratings Matter After an Accident
From a legal standpoint, vehicle safety plays a critical role in injury outcomes. In many accidents, two drivers may experience the same type of collision but suffer very different injuries based on vehicle structure, restraint systems, and safety technology. Cars with stronger passenger compartments, advanced airbag systems, and effective crash-avoidance features can mean the difference between minor injuries and life-altering trauma.
Safety ratings are also relevant in accident investigations. They help illustrate how a vehicle is expected to perform under crash conditions and whether advanced systems should have engaged to prevent or reduce the severity of a collision.
The Safest Small and Compact Cars for 2025–2026
Smaller vehicles have historically raised concerns about occupant protection, but today’s compact cars are far safer than those of previous decades. Several small cars stand out for earning top safety awards while remaining practical for daily driving.
The Honda Civic continues to be one of the safest compact cars available, particularly in its hatchback configuration, which has earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition. Its strong crash-test performance is paired with standard driver-assistance features that help prevent frontal collisions and lane-departure accidents.
Mazda’s Mazda3, offered as both a sedan and hatchback, also ranks among the safest vehicles in its class. It consistently performs well in side-impact and frontal crash tests and includes advanced safety systems even on lower trims. The Toyota Prius, long known for fuel efficiency, has also emerged as a safety leader thanks to its rigid structure and well-integrated crash-avoidance technology.
Vehicles like the Hyundai Elantra further demonstrate that affordability does not require sacrificing safety. With strong ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA, these compact cars provide excellent protection for commuters and young drivers alike.
Midsize Cars That Excel in Crash Protection
Midsize sedans remain popular for families and long-distance drivers, and many offer outstanding safety credentials for 2025 and 2026. The Honda Accord continues its long history of safety excellence, earning top scores across multiple crash categories while offering intuitive driver-assistance features designed to reduce driver fatigue and error.
Toyota’s Camry remains another strong choice, particularly for drivers seeking reliability paired with robust safety performance. Hyundai has also made significant strides in this category with the Sonata and the all-electric Ioniq 6, both of which earn high marks for structural integrity and collision-avoidance systems.
For drivers considering an electric sedan, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 stands out as one of the safest EVs currently available, demonstrating that electric vehicles can meet — and often exceed — traditional safety benchmarks.
Luxury Cars With Advanced Safety Engineering
Luxury vehicles often introduce safety innovations before they reach the broader market, and several premium models are among the safest cars for 2025–2026. Mercedes-Benz continues to prioritize occupant protection in models like the C-Class, which combines strong crash-test results with sophisticated driver-assistance systems.
Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, has earned particular praise for the G80 and G90 sedans. These vehicles perform exceptionally well in IIHS testing and include comprehensive safety suites designed to reduce the likelihood of serious injury in high-speed collisions.
Audi’s A5 and A6 Sportback e-tron also rank highly, blending rigid construction with advanced braking and lane-management systems that help drivers maintain control in complex traffic situations.
SUVs: The Safest Choice for Many Families
SUVs remain one of the most popular vehicle categories in the United States, and many of the safest vehicles for 2025–2026 fall within this segment. Their larger size and higher ride height can provide additional protection in multi-vehicle crashes, especially when paired with strong safety engineering.
Hyundai’s Tucson and Kona continue to earn recognition for crashworthiness and standard safety technology. Kia’s Telluride, a favorite among families, remains a standout for its ability to protect occupants across all three rows. The electric Kia EV9 further demonstrates how newer platforms are being engineered with safety at the forefront.
Luxury SUVs such as the Genesis GV70 and GV80, the Volvo XC90, and the BMW X5 also deliver exceptional crash protection, making them strong choices for families who want space without compromising safety.
Electric Vehicles and Safety in 2025–2026
Electric vehicles are becoming more common, and safety testing has adapted accordingly. Vehicles like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Hyundai Ioniq 6 show that EVs can offer excellent crash protection due to their low center of gravity and reinforced battery structures. These design elements often improve rollover resistance and structural rigidity during impacts.
As EV adoption grows, safety ratings will continue to be an essential factor for consumers weighing new technology against proven performance.
Trucks and Larger Vehicles
While pickup trucks historically lagged behind cars and SUVs in safety ratings, newer models are closing the gap. The Toyota Tundra stands out as one of the safest trucks available, earning strong crash-test results and offering modern driver-assistance features that help mitigate common accident scenarios involving large vehicles.
Safest Cars for 2025–2026: Comparison Table
| Vehicle | Vehicle Type | Primary Safety Recognition | Why It Stands Out for Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic (Hatchback) | Compact Car | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Excellent crashworthiness and standard collision-avoidance features |
| Mazda3 (Sedan/Hatchback) | Compact Car | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Strong side-impact protection and reliable lane-assist technology |
| Toyota Prius | Hybrid Compact | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Reinforced structure and effective pedestrian-detection braking |
| Hyundai Elantra | Compact Sedan | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ / NHTSA 5-Star | Advanced safety tech standard even on lower trims |
| Honda Accord | Midsize Sedan | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Consistent top scores in frontal and side crash tests |
| Toyota Camry | Midsize Sedan | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Proven crash protection and stability control performance |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Electric Sedan | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Low center of gravity reduces rollover risk |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Luxury Sedan | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Advanced driver-assistance systems and rigid cabin design |
| Genesis G80 | Luxury Sedan | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Exceptional occupant protection in high-speed impacts |
| Hyundai Tucson | Compact SUV | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Strong crash-avoidance systems and side-impact ratings |
| Kia Telluride | Midsize SUV | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Excellent protection across all seating rows |
| Genesis GV80 | Luxury SUV | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Large-vehicle stability and advanced collision prevention |
| Volvo XC90 | Midsize Luxury SUV | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Long-standing reputation for injury prevention |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | Electric SUV | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ | Battery placement improves stability in crashes |
| Toyota Tundra | Full-Size Truck | IIHS Top Safety Pick | Improved crash protection compared to earlier truck models |
Why Advanced Safety Technology Matters
Many serious accidents occur due to momentary inattention, poor visibility, or delayed reaction times. Modern safety systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control are designed to address these issues before a crash occurs. While these systems are not a substitute for attentive driving, they can significantly reduce the likelihood or severity of collisions.
From a personal injury perspective, vehicles equipped with these technologies often show reduced injury severity in real-world crashes.
Safety as an Investment, Not an Option
Selecting one of the safest cars for 2025–2026 is an investment in your health, your family’s well-being, and your financial future. While no vehicle can eliminate risk entirely, choosing a car with top safety ratings and advanced protective features can dramatically reduce the impact of an accident.
At Kaplun & Marx, we’ve seen firsthand how vehicle safety can influence injury outcomes. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, understanding these safety factors can also help clarify what happened and why injuries occurred.
