Here Are The Safest New Cars And Crossovers Of 2020, According To The IIHS

23 vehicles currently have the "Top Safety Pick+" rating

Modern cars are safer than ever before. That’s not just a marketing blurb, either — although manufacturers love to shout their cars’ safety awards from the rooftops. Instead, our cars are getting safer each year because agencies like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) keep moving the goal posts on its Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. Automakers have to up their game to achieve the coveted safety titles for 2020.

2020 Safest Cars and Crossovers IIHS

For this year, vehicles have to have a “good” rating (the best of four possible results) on all crashworthiness tests. That’s nothing new, but all vehicles must also achieve a good or “acceptable” rating on its headlights, and have available frontal crash prevention systems that score a “superior” or “advanced” rating in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian applications.

So far, 64 vehicles quality for at least Top Safety Pick by those standards. Of those, 23 achieved the Top Safety Pick+ rating, according to the IIHS’ statement on Thursday. The IIHS hasn’t tested all 2020 models yet, so this list will grow throughout the year. That said, here are the safest new cars and crossovers you can buy according to their tests.

Top Safety Pick+: 23 vehicles

Genesis, Mazda and Subaru all earned top marks with most of their models for the 2020 model year. As in previous years, the “plus” rating applies only to vehicles that have scored good or acceptable on headlight rankings across their entire range. As a result, cars like the Kia Telluride did not get a Top Safety Pick+ award, even though it scores exceptionally well on its crash tests and crash prevention systems. Models that get less than “acceptable”, as the Telluride did with its standard headlights, are automatically relegated to Top Safety Pick status.

The Tesla Model 3 also made the Top Safety Pick+ list, as it is currently one of the electric cars you can buy. The Hyundai Nexo is also a notable inclusion on the list, though it’s not available for sale nationwide.

Top Safety Pick+ vehicles

  • Acura RDX
  • Audi A6
  • Cadillac XT6, built after October 2019
  • Genesis G70, built after December 2019
  • Genesis G80
  • Honda Insight
  • Hyundai Nexo
  • Lexus ES
  • Lexus NX
  • Mazda3
  • Mazda6
  • Mazda CX-3
  • Mazda CX-5, with optional front crash prevention
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with optional front crash prevention
  • Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, built after July 2019 w/ optional front crash prevention
  • Nissan Maxima
  • Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
  • Subaru Forester
  • Subaru Legacy
  • Subaru Outback, built after October 2019
  • Tesla Model 3
  • Toyota Camry

Top Safety Pick: 41 vehicles

Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Subaru dominate the rest of the Top Safety Pick list, as their models landed here instead of Top Safety Pick+ if they missed the top mark on headlights. Several of the entry level cars only have automatic emergency braking as an option, and the Top Safety Pick designation only applies to those cars that have the system equipped.

Top Safety Pick vehicles

  • Audi A7
  • Audi Q8
  • BMW 3 Series
  • Chevrolet Equinox
  • Ford Edge
  • Ford Escape
  • Honda Accord
  • Honda Civic (all except Type R)
  • Honda CR-V
  • Hyundai Elantra and Elantra GT, with optional front crash prevention
  • Hyundai Kona, with optional front crash prevention
  • Hyundai Palisade
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Hyundai Veloster, with optional front crash prevention
  • Kia Forte, with optional front crash prevention
  • Kia Sorento, with optional front crash prevention
  • Kia Soul, with optional front crash prevention
  • Kia Sportage
  • Kia Stinger, with optional front crash prevention
  • Kia Telluride
  • Lexus RX
  • Lexus UX
  • Lincoln Corsair
  • Mazda CX-9, with optional front crash prevention
  • Nissan Altima, with optional front crash prevention
  • Subaru Ascent
  • Subaru Crosstrek, with optional front crash prevention
  • Subaru Impreza, with optional front crash prevention
  • Subaru WRX, with optional front crash prevention
  • Toyota Corolla sedan and hatch, with optional front crash prevention
  • Toyota RAV4
  • Volkswagen Tiguan
  • Volvo S60