{"id":591,"date":"2026-10-15T16:02:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gfai2025.com\/blog\/?p=591"},"modified":"2026-10-15T16:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:02:27","slug":"which-suvs-have-the-best-safety-ratings-from-iihs-416f-35896e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gfai2025.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/15\/which-suvs-have-the-best-safety-ratings-from-iihs-416f-35896e\/","title":{"rendered":"Which SUVs have the best safety ratings from IIHS?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re in the market for an SUV, safety is likely at the top of your priority list\u2014and when it comes to crash testing and safety ratings, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is the gold standard I rely on every day as an SUV supplier. For over 20 years, IIHS has set a higher bar than the federal government\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with more rigorous crash tests, including side-impact evaluations that mimic being hit by a 4,200-pound SUV at 38 mph, small overlap front tests that replicate crashing into a tree or utility pole, and even nighttime crash avoidance assessments for active safety features like automatic emergency braking. SUV<\/a><\/p>\n

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As someone who works directly with automakers to source and supply SUV components, I\u2019ve seen how IIHS ratings don\u2019t just matter to consumers\u2014they shape production plans, spare part inventory, and how we talk to fleet buyers. Over the past 12 months, I\u2019ve had dozens of meetings with retail and commercial clients asking, \u201cWhich SUVs actually earn IIHS\u2019s top honors?\u201d so I decided to compile this breakdown of the SUVs with the best IIHS safety ratings, plus a supplier\u2019s perspective on why these ratings aren\u2019t just numbers on a page.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s clarify IIHS\u2019s key awards because not all \u201ctop safety\u201d designations are equal. There are two top-tier honors: Top Safety Pick (TSP) and Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+). To earn TSP+, a vehicle must score \u201cGood\u201d in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests (small overlap front driver and passenger, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints\/seats), have advanced or superior-rated front crash prevention systems, and meet updated headlight standards. TSP follows the same crashworthiness rules but only requires basic front crash prevention. For an SUV, especially since many families and small businesses use them for daily commutes and long trips, TSP+ is the threshold for a truly safe pick.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m vetting models for our supply chain, I look closely at SUV categories because safety performance varies wildly by size. Subcompact SUVs, for example, tend to struggle with small overlap crash tests due to their smaller frame, but some models have broken through. The Honda CR-V Hybrid is a standout in the compact SUV segment, grabbing a 2024 TSP+. I\u2019ve sourced steel reinforcements for the CR-V\u2019s front end before, and what stands out is how Honda reinforced the passenger-side small overlap zone\u2014when a car hits just 25% of the front corner, many smaller vehicles leave the passenger compartment exposed, but the CR-V\u2019s design keeps intrusion below IIHS\u2019s \u201cGood\u201d threshold. It also has superior-rated front crash prevention that works even at night, which is a big deal because 50% of pedestrian fatalities happen after dark, per IIHS data.<\/p>\n

Moving to midsize SUVs, the 2024 Subaru Outback and Kia Telluride are both TSP+ winners, and here\u2019s where my supplier experience adds context. Last year, we supplied body moldings for the Telluride\u2019s roof rails, which IIHS tests to ensure the roof doesn\u2019t collapse in a rollover. The Telluride\u2019s roof strength is 5.9 times its curb weight\u2014way above the 4x minimum IIHS requires for \u201cGood.\u201d The Outback, though, has a unique advantage: its EyeSight driver assist system is standard on every trim, not just high-end models. As a supplier, I always emphasize that standard safety features aren\u2019t a luxury\u2014they should be accessible, and both these models deliver that, which is why they\u2019re top sellers for family fleets.<\/p>\n

For three-row midsize SUVs, a category that\u2019s huge for small businesses needing work vehicles or large families, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 is a recent TSP+ addition that\u2019s turning heads. I worked with Mazda on the CX-90\u2019s door latch systems last quarter, and one detail that made IIHS happy is their updated side-impact airbags that protect both the chest and pelvis\u2014something many competing three-row models skimp on. I also had a client last month who switched from a competitor model to the CX-90 because the old model only had a side curtain airbag for the first two rows, while the CX-90 extends curtains to all three. That\u2019s the kind of design choice that makes a real difference in crash safety, and it\u2019s exactly why IIHS rates these SUVs so highly.<\/p>\n

If we\u2019re talking about larger SUVs, like full-size models, the 2024 Ford Explorer is a TSP+ winner, and here\u2019s where I\u2019ve seen how IIHS ratings impact supplier logistics. The Explorer\u2019s moderate overlap front test has a \u201cGood\u201d rating, which is important because that\u2019s the most common type of crash, but its small overlap passenger-side test was a weak spot for a long time. When Ford redesigned the Explorer in 2020, they worked with steel suppliers like ours to add high-strength boron steel to the passenger front corner, pushing it from \u201cMarginal\u201d to \u201cGood.\u201d As someone who manages inventory, I know that swapping out a component for a higher-strength steel can add a few dollars to each vehicle\u2019s cost, but the long-term payoff in safety (and resale value) is huge. Ford\u2019s TSP+ rating has actually helped our supply chain secure more fleet contracts for Explorer parts, so it\u2019s a win-win.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about SUVs that miss the mark, because that\u2019s just as important for a supplier. Earlier this year, a client asked about a popular subcompact SUV that had a \u201cMarginal\u201d rating in the driver-side small overlap test, and I had to explain why IIHS doesn\u2019t just penalize small vehicles\u2014it expects automakers to adapt. That subcompact had a sloped hood to improve aerodynamics, but it left the front crash structure too short to handle a small overlap crash. I didn\u2019t supply parts for that model, and I warned the client that if safety is their top priority, they should look at models that prioritize crash structure over aerodynamics, even if it means a slightly larger vehicle.<\/p>\n

As an SUV supplier, I also keep an eye on emerging trends that IIHS is starting to test, like electric SUVs. The 2024 Tesla Model Y is a TSP+ winner, which surprised a lot of people because electric vehicles often have heavy batteries that can shift in a crash. But what Tesla did was integrate the battery pack into the chassis, which adds rigidity that helps in crash tests. I recently supplied battery cooling hoses for the Model Y, and while that part is for EV performance, I know the chassis design is a big reason it earned top marks. It\u2019s a good example of how electrification doesn\u2019t have to mean sacrificing safety\u2014if automakers design smart, it can actually enhance it.<\/p>\n

Now, I want to share a quick anecdote that drives home why this matters. Last year, I met a small business owner who used a mid-sized SUV to transport construction tools and his two teenage kids. He\u2019d been driving an SUV that got a \u201cPoor\u201d side-impact rating, and after a close call on the highway where another driver T-boned him, he started shopping for a safer model. He ended up buying the Kia Telluride, which has a \u201cGood\u201d side rating, and told me later that his kids always feel safer now. That\u2019s why I don\u2019t just sell parts\u2014I connect buyers to SUVs that aren\u2019t just rated safe, but are built to protect the people inside.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a consumer, fleet manager, or anyone looking for an SUV with the best IIHS safety ratings, here\u2019s my advice: don\u2019t just look at the IIHS website\u2019s list\u2014dig into the specifics. A TSP+ is great, but check which trim levels have top ratings, because many automakers only offer best headlight systems on high-end trims. Also, consider how the safety features are deployed: standard is better than optional, because optional features often get overlooked by drivers.<\/p>\n

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As an SUV supplier, my job isn\u2019t just to provide parts\u2014it\u2019s to help buyers make informed decisions about safe, reliable vehicles. If you\u2019re looking to source safe SUVs for personal use, a small business fleet, or any other purpose, I\u2019m here to help walk through options, share insights on how IIHS ratings translate to real-world safety, and discuss supply opportunities that fit your needs.<\/p>\n

Midsize Sedan<\/a> References: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2024 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ Awards; IIHS 2023 Pedestrian Crash Data Report; IIHS 2024 Small Overlap Front Crash Test Results.<\/p>\n

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Shanxi Dehui Automotive Technology Co., Ltd.<\/a>
As one of the most professional used suv manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good price. Please rest assured to buy premium used suv for sale here from our factory. Contact us for more details.
Address: 4th Floor, Building C, Huigu Industrial Park, No. 25 Fengyuan West Road, Jiancaoping District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province.
E-mail: dehuiqiche@gmail.com
WebSite: https:\/\/www.dehuiautomobile.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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