The heightened standards have had an immediate impact. This year, only 48 models have met the IIHS’s rigorous criteria, a sharp decline from the 71 vehicles that qualified at the same point in 2024. Of the winners, 36 have earned the prestigious Top Safety Pick+ rating, while 12 have received the standard Top Safety Pick.
“We’re once again challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than those they were building a year ago,” said David Harkey, president of the IIHS. “Every vehicle that earns a 2025 award offers a high level of safety in both the front seat and the second row.”
At the heart of the new requirements is an updated version of the IIHS’s moderate overlap front crash test, now incorporating a second crash-test dummy seated behind the driver. The revised test underscores the risks faced by rear-seat passengers, particularly as prior safety advancements—such as structural reinforcements, improved airbags, and advanced seat belts—have largely been concentrated in the front row.
Previously, vehicles could earn the standard Top Safety Pick award with a good rating in the original moderate overlap test, while the plus designation required an acceptable or good rating in the updated version. But for 2025, an acceptable rating in the revised test is the minimum threshold for the base award, while only those achieving a good rating will qualify for the Top Safety Pick+. The original test has been retired.
The IIHS’s stricter criteria extend beyond crash tests. To earn either award, vehicles must also achieve good ratings in the small overlap front test and the updated side-impact evaluation. Additionally, they must have pedestrian crash prevention systems that perform well in both daytime and nighttime conditions, and all trim levels must feature headlights rated as acceptable or better.
The 2025 winners reflect the composition of the current U.S. auto market, with SUVs dominating the field. Of the 36 Top Safety Pick+ recipients, 28 are SUVs, spanning small, midsize, luxury, and large categories. Eight more SUVs received the standard award.
Yet some vehicle segments have struggled under the new criteria. Notably absent from the list of winners are minivans, minicars, and small pickups, while only two large pickups—the Rivian R1T and Toyota Tundra—secured an award. Last year, these same two pickups, along with one small truck, were the only ones to earn acceptable or good ratings in the updated moderate overlap test.
“The new emphasis on back seat protection appears to have winnowed minivans and pickups from the winners’ ranks,” Harkey noted. “That’s unfortunate, considering that minivans are marketed as family haulers and extended cab and crew cab pickups are often used for that purpose.”
The IIHS first introduced the updated moderate overlap test in 2022, aiming to address a troubling shift in crash safety dynamics. While safety enhancements in recent years have significantly reduced fatal injury risks for front-seat passengers, the same advancements were not applied as consistently to the rear seats. As a result, in many modern vehicles, belted rear-seat occupants now face a higher risk of fatal injuries than those in the front.
The revised test continues to simulate a 40-mph frontal collision with a vehicle of similar size and weight, overlapping 40% of the front end. However, the addition of a rear-seat dummy—representing a small woman or a 12-year-old child—provides critical new data on the kinds of injuries most common among back-seat passengers.
Despite the tightening of safety standards, progress is evident. Two years after the update, nearly 60% of tested 2025 models have achieved acceptable or good ratings in the revised crash test, signaling meaningful strides in rear-seat protection. However, challenges remain. Across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years tested thus far, small and midsize SUVs continue to lead the way in safety performance, while no minivans and only a handful of cars and pickups have managed to secure top scores.
“There’s still progress to be made, but these results show that manufacturers are working hard to make their vehicles as safe for back-seat passengers as they are for those up front,” Harkey said. “Consumers looking for a new vehicle offering the highest level of protection for their families should put these award winners at the top of their list.”
Winners:
Small cars
Honda Civic hatchback
Mazda 3 hatchback
Mazda 3 sedan
Midsize cars
Honda Accord
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Toyota Camry
Midsize luxury car
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Small SUVs
Genesis GV60
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai Tucson
Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-50
Subaru Solterra
Midsize SUVs
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Hyundai Santa Fe built after November 2024
Kia EV9
Kia Telluride
Mazda CX-70
Mazda CX-70 PHEV
Mazda CX-90
Mazda CX-90 PHEV
Nissan Pathfinder
Midsize luxury SUVs
BMW X5
Genesis Electrified GV70
Genesis GV70 built after April 2024
Genesis GV80
Lincoln Nautilus
Mercedes-Benz GLC
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with optional front crash prevention
Volvo XC90 built before December 2024
Large SUVs
Audi Q7
Infiniti QX80
Rivian R1S built after August 2024
Large pickup
Toyota Tundra crew cab