The year is almost halfway over, but that doesn’t stop buyers from wondering what the safest new car is. To find the answers, we’ve dug deep into the reviews done by the IIHS. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation started in 2013 and is revered as one of the best determinations to find safe vehicles. Without further ado, let’s look at the 38 2019 Top Safety Pick+ winners.
How Does the IIHS Rate Vehicles?
To earn the top award, the vehicle must meet several requirements. This includes:
- Good ratings in the passenger-side small overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, roof strength, head restraint, side and moderate overlap front tests.
- Advanced or superior ratings for front crash prevention.
- Good headlight rating.
It’s important to note that some of the following cars require specific features to receive the classification.
2019 Top Safety Pick+ By Class
Small Cars
- Honda Insight
- Hyundai Elantra
- Kia Forte
- Kiro Niro Hybrid & Plug-In Hybrid Wagon
- Subaru Crosstrek & Impreza Wagon
- Subaru Impreza & WRX Sedan & Wagon
Midsize Cars
- Hyundai Sonata
- Kia Optima
- Subaru Legacy
- Subaru Outback
- Toyota Camry
Midsize Luxury Cars
- BMW 3-Series
- Lexus ES 350
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Large Cars
- Kia Stinger
- Toyota Avalon
Large Luxury Cars
- Audi A6
- BMW 5-Series
- Genesis G70, G80 & G90
- Lincoln Continental
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Small SUVs
- Hyundai Kona
- Mazda CX-5
- Subaru Forester
- Volvo XC40
Midsize SUVs
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Kia Sorento
- Subaru Ascent
Midsize Luxury SUVs
- Acura RDX
- BMW X3 & X5
- Mercedes-Benz GLC & GLE
Picking the Safest Car
There are numerous factors to consider when picking a safe, family vehicle. You can also check out the NHTSA ratings, which tend to be different from the IIHS. You could also just go with a manual transmission on a VW since the automaker considers it to be a safety feature.
Do you buy cars based on safety ratings or other criteria? Let us know.