The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) plays a vital role in helping car buyers make informed decisions. Each year, they rigorously crash test numerous vehicles, providing crucial safety ratings. For those prioritizing safety, especially in the popular compact SUV segment, the IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards are essential benchmarks. This article delves into the compact SUVs that have earned these prestigious accolades, highlighting why they stand out as some of the safest choices on the road.
Compact SUVs are a favorite among families and urban dwellers alike, offering versatility and efficiency. However, safety should never be compromised. The IIHS evaluates vehicles across various crash scenarios and safety features, assigning ratings of “good,” “acceptable,” “marginal,” and “poor.” Earning a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ signifies exceptional performance in these evaluations. Let’s explore the compact SUVs that have achieved top safety honors, providing you with a reliable guide to the safest options available.
BMW X1 – Top Safety Pick
Image: BMW
The BMW X1, BMW’s entry into the compact SUV market, has secured an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. This safe compact SUV demonstrated “good” ratings in critical crashworthiness tests, including side impact and small overlap front crashes. A minor area for improvement noted by IIHS was the seat belt reminder system, which received a lower mark due to its quiet volume. Overall, the BMW X1 proves to be a safe and reliable choice in the compact SUV category.
BMW X2 – Top Safety Pick
Image: BMW
The redesigned 2024 BMW X2 further solidifies BMW’s commitment to safety in its SUV lineup. This compact SUV achieved “good” ratings across all IIHS safety categories. The only exception was in rear passenger injury measures for torsos, where it earned an “acceptable” rating. The BMW X2’s near-perfect safety scores make it a compelling option for those seeking a safe and stylish compact SUV.
Genesis GV60 – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Genesis
The Genesis GV60, an electric crossover from the luxury brand, earns the coveted Top Safety Pick+ designation, highlighting its superior safety performance. This often-overlooked EV SUV scored “good” in nearly every IIHS evaluation. Areas where it received an “acceptable” rating include ease of use for the rear LATCH system and driver injury measures for lower leg/foot, torso, and pelvis. Despite these minor points, the GV60’s Top Safety Pick+ award underscores its status as a remarkably safe electric compact SUV.
Honda CR-V – Top Safety Pick
Image: Honda
The Honda CR-V, a consistently best-selling model, is recognized as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. While achieving “good” ratings in many areas, the CR-V’s safety performance wasn’t flawless. It received a “poor” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test and for rear passenger restraint performance. Despite these shortcomings, the Honda CR-V remains a generally safe compact SUV option, particularly in other crash test categories.
Honda HR-V – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Honda
Interestingly, the smaller Honda HR-V outperformed its CR-V sibling in IIHS testing, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award. This compact crossover achieved “good” ratings across the board, with a few “acceptable” ratings in specific categories. These included child seat anchors, headlight performance, and driver injury measures for head/neck and torso. The Honda HR-V’s Top Safety Pick+ status makes it a top contender for safety-conscious buyers seeking a smaller SUV.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Hyundai
Hyundai’s electric crossover, the Ioniq 5, also boasts a Top Safety Pick+ rating, showcasing its commitment to safety in its EV lineup. Despite this top honor, the Ioniq 5 received “acceptable” ratings in several areas. These included headlight performance, front crash prevention for pedestrians, structural integrity and safety cage, and rear child seat anchors – a common challenge across many vehicles. Nonetheless, the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s overall safety performance is commendable, earning it a place among the Safest Compact Suvs.
Hyundai Kona – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Hyundai
The futuristic-looking Hyundai Kona is another Hyundai compact SUV to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating. Despite this top safety designation, the Kona received “acceptable” ratings for its headlights and child seat anchors. However, its strong performance in crash tests and other safety evaluations positions the Hyundai Kona as a safe and stylish choice in the compact SUV segment.
Hyundai Tucson – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Hyundai
Continuing Hyundai’s strong showing in safety, the Tucson also achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating, marking the third for the automaker in the compact SUV category. The Hyundai Tucson received “acceptable” ratings for its headlights and rear child latch system. Its standard crash avoidance systems were rated “marginal.” Even with these areas for improvement, the Tucson’s Top Safety Pick+ award signifies a high level of overall safety.
Kia Sportage – Top Safety Pick
Image: Kia
The Kia Sportage earned a Top Safety Pick rating, demonstrating solid safety performance. It achieved “good” ratings in all three crashworthiness categories. However, the Sportage received “acceptable” ratings for its headlights, front crash prevention for pedestrians, and ease of use of its child LATCH system. Its forward collision avoidance assist system received a “marginal” rating. Despite these mixed scores, the Kia Sportage’s Top Safety Pick recognition indicates a commitment to safety.
Lexus RZ – Top Safety Pick
Image: Lexus
Lexus’s electric SUV, the RZ, is a Top Safety Pick, highlighting Lexus’s dedication to safety in its electric vehicles. The Lexus RZ scored “good” in almost every IIHS category, with the exception of its headlights, which were rated “acceptable.” Notably, the RZ stood out for its child latch system, which was deemed easy to use, outperforming many other Top Safety Pick recipients in this aspect. The Lexus RZ combines luxury with strong safety credentials.
Lexus UX – Top Safety Pick
Image: Lexus
The Lexus UX, Lexus’s smallest crossover, is another Top Safety Pick for the brand. This safe compact SUV achieved “good” ratings in all IIHS safety categories except for the moderate overlap front crash test, where it received an “acceptable” rating. The Lexus UX offers luxury and safety in a compact package.
Mazda CX-30 – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Mazda
Mazda’s smallest crossover, the CX-30, earns the highest safety accolade: a Top Safety Pick+ rating. This safest compact SUV achieved “good” ratings in every single IIHS crash test and safety evaluation category. The Mazda CX-30’s perfect safety scores make it a leading choice for buyers prioritizing maximum safety in a compact SUV.
Mazda CX-50 – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Mazda
The Mazda CX-50 adds to Mazda’s impressive safety record, also earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating. While achieving this top award, the CX-50 received “acceptable” ratings for its headlights (with IIHS noting variability in headlight performance depending on trim level) and pedestrian crash avoidance system. Despite these points, the Mazda CX-50 remains a very safe compact SUV, further solidifying Mazda’s reputation for vehicle safety.
Subaru Solterra – Top Safety Pick+
Image: Subaru
Despite some criticisms as an EV, the Subaru Solterra achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating, proving its safety prowess. This electric compact SUV scored “good” in every IIHS safety category. The Subaru Solterra’s consistent “good” ratings across all evaluations demonstrate its commitment to passenger safety and make it a reliable choice in the electric compact SUV market.
Conclusion
Choosing a compact SUV that prioritizes safety is paramount for peace of mind on the road. The IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards provide a clear guide to the safest options in this vehicle segment. From the BMW X models to the Hyundai and Kia SUVs, Lexus crossovers, and Mazda and Subaru standouts, this list showcases a range of compact SUVs that have excelled in rigorous safety testing. When considering your next compact SUV, prioritize these IIHS award winners to ensure you and your passengers are traveling in one of the safest vehicles available.
A version of this article originally appeared on Jalopnik.
