2026 Kia Sorento Ranked Among the Safest Cars by U.S. Crash Test Agency
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent American non-profit organization that tests cars for safety, has released crash-test results for a new group of 2025 and 2026 vehicles.
16 cars from 12 different brands were qualified for the “Top Safety Pick” and “Top Safety Pick+” awards. However, four vehicles failed to qualify due to low scores; we’ll mention them later in the story.
Top Safety Pick Winners
The following vehicles earned the “Top Safety Pick” award, which is the agency’s second-highest honor:
- 2025 Acura ADX
- 2026 Hyundai Palisade
- 2025 Tesla Model 3
To win this award, a car must get a “Good” rating in the small overlap front crash test and the side impact test. It also needs to score “Good” or “Acceptable” in front crash prevention systems and must come with headlights that are rated “Good” or “Acceptable.”
The Tesla Model 3 had previously earned an “Acceptable” rating in the moderate overlap test, but it hadn’t been tested in the small front overlap crash and couldn’t receive an award. In the new tests, it earned a “Good” rating in the small overlap front test, allowing it to finally win the Top Safety Pick award.
The Acura ADX and Hyundai Palisade also earned “Acceptable” ratings in the moderate overlap test and “Good” ratings in all other crash tests. The Palisade was redesigned for 2026, and its safety scores have improved significantly; the older version received a “Poor” grade in the moderate overlap front test.
Top Safety Pick+ Winners
The following vehicles earned the “Top Safety Pick+” award, which is the highest honor possible:
- 2025 Audi A6 Sportback e-Tron
- 2025 Audi Q5
- 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback
- 2026 Genesis G80
- 2026 Honda Passport
- 2026 Infiniti QX60
- 2026 Kia Sorento
- 2026 Lexus NX
- 2026 Subaru Forester
- 2025 Tesla Cybertruck
- 2026 Volkswagen Atlas
- 2025-26 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
- 2025-26 Volvo EX90
To earn this top-tier award, a vehicle must meet all the rules for the regular Top Safety Pick, but it must also earn a “Good” score in the tough moderate overlap crash test.
Like the Model 3, the Tesla Cybertruck had previously done well in the moderate overlap front test and pedestrian crash prevention. However, it received a “Poor” rating for its headlights, and the IIHS hadn’t tested it for small-front-overlap or side-impact crashes.
In the new tests, the Cybertruck earned “Good” ratings in those crashes as well as a “Good” headlight rating. However, it is important to note that this award only applies to Cybertrucks built after April 2025.
Which Vehicles Failed to Qualify?
Not every vehicle performed well. The 2026 Jeep Gladiator, 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 2025-26 Ram 1500 Crew Cab, and 2025-26 VW Tiguan all failed to qualify for either award.
The agency also reported that the other vehicles (Mercedes E-Class and VW Tiguan) failed to qualify because they earned “Marginal” or “Poor” ratings in the moderate overlap test.
