This week the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released their list of the 2021 Top Safety Pick+ vehicles. The models earning this designation are the cream of the crop earning high marks for their safety features, crashworthiness, and headlight visibility.
To qualify as a 2021 Top Safety Pick+ winner, vehicles must score at least a Good rating in the driver- and passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. They must also get an Advanced or Superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. Finally, their headlights must be rated as Acceptable or Good.
The vehicles listed below checked all those boxes.
Click here to see 2020's results.
2021 Acura RDX
![2020 Acura RDX]()
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc
The Acura RDX is a four-door midsize luxury SUV. It earned all Good crash test ratings. The only sore spot was the SUV's standard front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention system, which was rated as a two out of three.
2021 Acura TLX
![2021 Acura TLX Advance]()
Photo courtesy of Acura
The 2021 Acura TLX earned the highest marks possible in every category of testing.
2021 Audi A6
![2020 Audi A6]()
Photo courtesy of Audi AG
The Audi A6 is a luxury large four-door sedan. It earned all Good crash test ratings and a mixed Good and Acceptable headlight rating (varies by trim level). It performed better in the front crash protection scenarios earning two Superior ratings.
2021 Audi A6 Offroad
![2020 Audi A6 Allroad]()
Photo courtesy of Audi AG
Audi's wagon version of the A6 Allroad earned the same crash test and crash avoidance and mitigation scores as its sedan stablemate.
2021 Audi A7
![2021 Audi A7]()
Photo courtesy of Audi AG
The Audi A7 earned the highest scores possible in all by one category - headlights. There, it managed to only get an Acceptable rating.
2021 Audi E-Tron
![2020 Audi E-Tron SUV]()
Photo courtesy of Audi AG
Like many models on this list, the Audi E-Tron is plenty crashworthy, scoring all Good marks. However, its headlights are only Acceptable in lower trim levels while top grades get a Good rating.
2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback
![2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback]()
Photo courtesy of Audi AG
The sloped-roof version of the Audi E-Tron shares most of its components with the model. It earned the exact same marks as the E-Ton - all Good except for lower-grade models with non-premium headlights get an Acceptable rating.
2021 Cadillac XT6
![2020 Cadillac XT6]()
Photo courtesy of Cadillac
The Cadillac XT6 is the automaker's only entry on this list. It earns all Good crash test ratings, an Acceptable headlight rating, and Superior front crash protection ratings for its standard and available systems. LATCH ease of use is only rated as Acceptable.
2021 Ford Explorer
![2020 Ford Explorer]()
Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The Ford Explorer isn't perfect, but it is nearly there. The SUV has earned all Good ratings from IIHS except in the headlight and LATCH system categories where it's ranked as merely Acceptable.
2021 Genesis G70
![2020 Genesis G70]()
Photo courtesy of Genesis Motor LLC
Despite being the smallest car Genesis builds, the G70 is categorized by IIHS as a four-door luxury large car. While it earned all Good marks for crashworthiness and the all-important headlight test, the car's LATCH system was given just Marginal marks.
2021 Genesis G90
![2020 Genesis G90]()
2020 Genesis G90
Photo courtesy of Genesis Motors
IIHS also categorizes the Genesis G90 as a four-door luxury large car. It too earned all Good crash test ratings but its LATCH system fared slightly better than the G70's, getting an Acceptable rating.
2021 Honda Accord
![Honda Accord]()
Honda Accord
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc
The 2021 Honda Accord earned its designation by getting a perfect score in every category. Depending on the trim level, the car's headlights either earned a top Good rating or just an Acceptable mark.
2021 Honda Insight
![2020 Hyundai Insight]()
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc
The Honda Insight is a four-door small sedan with big appeal for commuters. It has earned the highest marks IIHS gives in each area it was evaluated. The Insight is one of the few models to earn just high praise.
2021 Honda Odyssey
![2021 Honda Odyssey]()
2021 Honda Odyssey gets $1,000 starting price bump, but one grade gets a big decrease
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc
The Honda Odyssey was refreshed for the 2021 model year, a move that has improved its IIHS crash test results. The Odyssey received all Good crashworthiness ratings but its headlights were only deemed Acceptable.
2021 Hyundai Nexo
![2020 Hyundai Nexo]()
Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America
The Hyundai-branded hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is categorized as a midsize luxury SUV by IIHS. This probably has something to do with its high price tag. The Nexo scored nearly all top-tier ratings. The exception is in the vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test where it earned an Advanced rating.
2021 Hyundai Palisade
![2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy]()
Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America
The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is a family hauler that easily competes with more premium-priced SUVs. The three-row SUV scored Good on all its crash tests and earned the highest technology and headlight ratings.
2021 Kia K5
![2021 Kia K5]()
Photo courtesy of Kia Motors
The Kia K5 did well in IIHS crash testing, but its headlights didn't fare as well. Depending on the grade, their score was either Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. The K5's standard front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention system scored just a two out of three and LATCH ease of use scored an Acceptable rating. These ratings only apply to K5s produced after November 2020.
2021 Lexus ES 350
![2020 Lexus ES]()
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
The 2020 Lexus ES 350 is a four-door midsize luxury car that was redesigned for the 2019 model year. It scored all Good ratings in the crashworthiness tests but earned just Good and Acceptable headlight ratings as the lights vary by trim level. It has Superior front vehicle-to-vehicle crash protection and Advanced front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention.
2021 Lexus IS
![2021 Lexus IS]()
Photo courtesy of Lexus
Lexus gave the IS a massive improvement for the 2021 model year and it's paid off - not just in terms of drivability, but also safety. It scored top Good ratings in all tests except the headlights section where it lower trim levels earn an Acceptable rating while higher grades get a Good.
2021 Lexus NX
![2018 Lexus NX]()
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
IIHS categorizes the four-door Lexus NX as a midsize luxury sedan. It, like the Honda Insight, earned all top-tier marks inn every testing category except for the LATCH ease of use, where it merely scored an Acceptable rating.
2021 Mazda CX-3
![2020 Mazda CX-3]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
As far as four-door small SUVs go, the Mazda CX-3 is one of the safest. It scored all Good ratings in the crashworthiness tests but earned just Acceptable headlight ratings. It has Superior front vehicle-to-vehicle crash protection and Advanced front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention. The SUV's LATCH system was rated as Acceptable.
2021 Mazda CX-30
![2020 Mazda CX-3]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
The new-in-2020 Mazda CX-30 has its rating only apply to vehicles built after September 2020. The SUV received all Good crashworthiness ratings but its standard headlights were rated Poor. Everything else about the car was highly rated.
2021 Mazda CX-5
![2020 Mazda CX-5]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
IIHS's ratings of the four-door Mazda CX-5 small SUV apply only to models with the available front crash prevention system. When equipped with that system, the CX-5 gets rated as having Good crashworthiness, Good and Acceptable headlights because the lights vary by trim level, Superior front vehicle-to-vehicle crash protection with its optional system, and Advanced front vehicle-to-vehicle (standard) and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention (available) with the systems.
2021 Mazda CX-9
![2021 Mazda CX-9]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
The 2021 Mazda CX-9 has received all Good marks except in the crash avoidance and mitigation category. There, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system only received an Advanced score. The CX-9's LATCH system was not evaluated.
2021 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback
![2020 Mazda Mazda3]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
The four-door Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback earned all top-tier ratings from IIHS except in the headlight test where it had an Acceptable or Good rating, depending on the headlights offered on the model's trim level.
2021 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan
![2020 Mazda Mazda3]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
Like the hatchback variant, the four-door Mazda Mazda3 small sedan earned all top-tier ratings from IIHS except in the headlight test where it had an Acceptable or Good rating, depending on the trim level chosen.
2021 Mazda Mazda6
![2020 Mazda Mazda6]()
Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations
The four-door midsize Mazda Mazda6 got all Good marks in the six crashworthiness categories. The car's headlights earned Good and Acceptable headlight ratings as the lights vary by trim level.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE
![Mercedes-Benz GLE]()
Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz GLE was tested with optional front crash prevention technology. It earned all Good marks but its headlights were split between Good and Acceptable, depending on trim level. The car's standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system was only rated as Basic.
2021 Nissan Altima
![2020 Nissan Altima]()
Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
Nissan's Altima received all Good crash test ratings but its headlights earned just an Acceptable score.
2021 Nissan Maxima
![2020 Nissan Maxima]()
Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
The four-door Nissan Maxima sedan is one of the models that earned a nearly perfect score. The only place where it faltered is with its headlamps, which scored just an Acceptable rating. This rating only applies to Maximas built after November 2020.
2021 Nissan Rogue
![2021 Nissan Rogue]()
Photo courtesy of Nissan North America
The Nissan Rogue received outstanding marks in all IIHS evaluation categories including the headlight and LATCH tests.
2021 Subaru Ascent
![2021 Subaru Ascent]()
Photo courtesy of Subaru of America Inc.
Subaru's largest SUV received all Good scores in IIHS testing thanks in large part to its standard EyeSight safety technology. The three-row Subaru Ascent has a high strength-to-weight ratio.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
![2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid]()
Photo courtesy of Subaru of America Inc.
The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, earned a perfect score in all the categories IIHS tested.
2021 Subaru Forester
![2020 Subaru Forester]()
Photo courtesy of Subaru of America Inc.
The Subaru Forester small SUV earned a Good rating in every IIHS testing category, much like the rest of its Subaru family.
2021 Subaru Legacy
![2020 Subaru Legacy]()
Photo courtesy of Subaru of America Inc.
The Subaru Legacy's scores are the same as the Subaru Forester's. It got all Good marks, including its headlights, which is a higher mark than what they earned last year.
2021 Subaru Outback
![2020 Subaru Outback]()
Photo courtesy of Subaru of America Inc.
The Subaru Outback was awarded all Good and higher scores in IIHS testing this year.
2021 Tesla Model 3
![Tesla Model 3]()
Photo courtesy of Tesla
The Tesla Model 3 all-electric sedan earned all Good ratings in its crashworthiness test but didn't score quite as well in the front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation where it got just an Advanced rating. The car's LATCH system is rated as Acceptable.
2021 Toyota Camry
![2019 Toyota Camry]()
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
All of the Toyota Camry sedan's crashworthiness scores earned a Good rating. Its headlamps were only rated Acceptable whereas the available ones received a Good mark.
2021 Toyota Highlander
![2020 Toyota Highlander]()
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
The Toyota Highlander does as well as most other three-row SUVs in IIHS testing - all Good scores except a Good/Acceptable split in the headlights test.
2021 Toyota Sienna
![2021 Toyota Highlander]()
Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
The Toyota Sienna was redesigned for the 2021 model year as a hybrid-only minivan. The van's redesign has been engineered well, earning it all Good scores from IIHS. Like many other vehicles, the Sienna's standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system is just basic.
2021 Volvo S60
![2021 Volvo S60]()
Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA
The Volvo S60 has earned perfect marks from IIHS except when it comes the LATCH system ease of use. There, it scores just an Acceptable rating.
2021 Volvo S60 Recharge
Like the traditional S60, the S60 Recharge has gotten all top ratings except in the LATCH category.
2021 Volvo V60
![2020 Volvo V60]()
Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA
The Volvo V60 is the wagon version of the S60. It has gotten the same score.
2021 Volvo V60 Recharge
The V60 and V60 Recharge have the same relationship to each other as the S60 and S60 Recharge so it makes sense that they have the same scores. The V60 and V60 Recharge scored all Goods, except in the LATCH category, where the mark was Acceptable.
2021 Volvo XC40
![2021 Volvo XC40 R-Design]()
Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA
The Volvo XC40 scored the best of any Volvo on this list. It earned all Good crashworthiness marks, has Superior standard vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems, and earned an Acceptable LATCH connection rating.
2021 Volvo XC60
![2020 Volvo XC60]()
Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA
The Volvo XC60 is a well-engineered vehicle. It earns all Good crash test ratings and has Acceptable headlights and LATCH connections. The SUV's standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system is Advanced.
2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge
The XC60 Recharge, a twin of the XC60 except in powertrain, scored exactly the same as its brother in IIHS testing.
2021 Volvo XC90
![2020 Volvo XC90 T8]()
Photo courtesy of Volvo Car USA
The Volvo XC90 scored well in IIHS testing, earning all Good crashworthiness scores, but its headlights and LATCH connections earn Acceptable scores. The standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system earned an Advanced rating.
2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge
The Volvo XC90 Recharge, which varies from the XC90 in powertrain alone when it comes to equipment, earned the same IIHS ratings as the XC90.
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