These are the safest vehicles of 2021, reports highway safety group

Toyota Land Cruiser
Photo credit: Hyundai via Newspress USA.
The Palisade helped vault Hyundai to the top for safety winners.

Safety features rank high among most consumers’ reasons to purchase new vehicles.

And manufacturers increasingly are meeting strict safety criteria in their new vehicles, based on results of the latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The number of vehicles meeting the highest IIHS standards for safety has more than doubled over last year to 51 models – which is more than five times as many models as its first ratings in 2006. IIHS recognized 91 models overall for their performance in crash, crash avoidance and headlight tests.

Of all manufacturers, Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, earned the most 2021 awards – 12 Top Safety Pick (TSP) awards and five Top Safety Pick-plus (TSP+) awards. Overall, midsize luxury SUVs scored the most vehicles, winning 10 top safety pick-plus awards, while the small SUV category comprised the most awarded models with 20.

Chrysler Capital Offers

“With these awards, we want to make it easy for consumers to find vehicles that provide good protection in crashes, sufficient lighting and effective front crash test protection,” said David Harkey, president of IIHS, an independent nonprofit safety group.

“Manufacturers have stepped up to the challenge, and the list of great options has grown to an impressive size this year,” Harkey said.

2021 Ram 1500 Crew Cab
Photo credit: Stellantis via Newspress USA.
The Ram 1500 Crew Cab was the only pickup to win an award.

Following is a list of TSP+ award winners, mostly four-doors, by category:

Small SUVs (6)

Mazda CX-3
Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-5
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Volvo XC40

Midsize SUVs (5)

Ford Explorer
Hyundai Palisade
Mazda CX-9
Subaru Ascent
Toyota Highlander

Midsize luxury SUVs (10)

Acura RDX
Cadillac XT6
Genesis GV80
Hyundai Nexo
Lexus NX
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC 60 Recharge
Volvo XC90
Volvo XC90 Recharge

Large SUVs (2)

Audi e-tron
Audi e-tron Sportback

Small cars (4)

Honda Insight sedan
Mazda 3 hatchback
Mazda 3 sedan
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid wagon

Midsize cars (8)

Honda Accord sedan
Kia K5 sedan
Mazda 6 sedan
Nissan Altima sedan
Nissan Maxima sedan
Subaru Legacy sedan
Subaru Outback wagon
Toyota Camry sedan

Midsize luxury cars (8)

Acura TLX sedan
Lexus ES 350 sedan
Lexus IS sedan
Tesla Model 3 sedan
Volvo S60 sedan
Volvo S60 sedan
Volvo S60 wagon
Volvo V60 Recharge wagon

Large luxury cars (5)

Audi A6 sedan
Audi A6 Allroad wagon
Audi A7 hatchback
Genesis G70 sedan
Genesis G90 sedan

Minivans (2)

Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna

Large pickups (1)

Ram 1500 Crew Cab

Overall, the categories and number of TSP and TSP+ awards from most to least are: small SUVs, 20; small cars, 16; midsize luxury SUVs, 13; midsize luxury cars, 12; midsize cars, 9; midsize SUVs, 9; large luxury cars, 5; large SUVs, 3; minivans, 2; large cars, 1, and large pickups, 1. For more details on the TSP winners, visit the IIHS article 2021 Top Safety Picks.

“These awards identify the best choices for safety within size categories within a given year,” IIHS said.

For more details on all award-winning models, scroll to the links on the bottom of the IIHS article Choices expand for safety-conscious consumers, and for award winners from previous years 2006 through 2020, scroll to the links on the bottom of 2021 Top Safety Picks.

The IIHS is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation, which include their well-known crash tests, to inform consumers, policymakers and safety professionals.

More Like This

How to calculate the gas cost of a trip
October 10, 2024

How to calculate the gas cost of a trip

It’s easy to jump in the car and just drive, but when you’re taking a road trip or even starting a new commute, a little planning goes a long way. Calculating the gas cost of your trip is a smart…

Illustration of the front end of a car with a signed piece of paper with pen behind it.
September 26, 2024

What’s the minimum credit score to get a car loan?

You’ve probably heard that next to buying a home, getting a new or pre-owned vehicle is one of the largest purchases one can make. You may also be aware that factors to get financing in both homes and cars rely…

Group of Santander Consumer USA volunteers making sandwiches for nonprofit organizations.
September 5, 2024

National Sales Meeting Provides Opportunities to Give Back

The annual Santander Consumer USA National Sales Meeting (NSM) is always a rewarding experience. The weeklong event gives employees the chance to learn from each other, grow their skill sets and hear directly from leadership. In addition to sharing insights…

Illustration of two football fans tailgating out of the back of a truck.
August 29, 2024

10 Ultimate Tailgating Tips for a Successful Football Season

When it comes to American traditions, it doesn’t get much better than game day. Some of the best parts about the fall season and its arrival are cooler weather, the leaves changing colors and the return of football. Whether you…

Illustration of side of a school bus
August 8, 2024

Back-to-school driving habits and transportation

As summer slowly starts to wind down, parents and students are readying their households earlier and earlier for the back-to-school season. According to industry experts, parents will cover billions of miles taking their kids to and from school, and 69%…

Illustration of person in car next to pillar that says Principal and Interest.
July 25, 2024

What is a simple interest contract in auto financing?

Just because auto financing involves simple interest contracts doesn’t mean everyone understands them. Asking the question “What is a simple interest contract?” is not unusual. To help you understand how simple interest contracts work, we’ve produced a short video that…