Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveals its prestigious Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards, spotlighting vehicles that excel in crash tests and overall safety. The 2024 edition sees familiar leaders, with Mazda taking the crown as the strongest brand, earning an impressive eight Top Safety Pick+ awards.
With categories spanning from small cars to large pickup trucks, this year’s results reaffirm the dominance of Asian automakers in delivering vehicles that prioritize safety, innovation, and reliability.
What It Takes to Win a Top Safety Pick+
To secure the coveted Top Safety Pick+, vehicles must pass the updated moderate overlap front test, introduced in 2022. This test evaluates both driver and passenger safety, focusing on second-row passengers using a stricter scoring formula. Vehicles are also assessed for crash prevention, headlight performance, and overall safety.
Read more: Snow Tire Recall Alert: Is Your Vehicle Affected?
Small Cars Shine: Mazda and Toyota Lead
In the small car category, Mazda claimed two Top Safety Pick+ awards for the 2024-2025 Mazda 3 sedan and Mazda 3 hatchback. Joining them were the:
- 2024 Toyota Prius (hybrid)
- 2025 Honda Civic sedan
- 2024-2025 Acura Integra hatchback
Notably, the 2024 Prius Plug-in Hybrid secured a Top Safety Pick award, just missing the “+” designation.
Midsize and Luxury Sedans: A Tough Competition
Asian brands continued to dominate the midsize car segment. Winners of the Top Safety Pick+ award included:
- 2024-2025 Honda Accord
- 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
- 2025 Toyota Camry
The Camry, which also won CarBuzz’s Car of the Year Award, stood out as a favorite among safety-conscious buyers.
In the luxury midsize car category, the only Top Safety Pick+ winner was the 2024-2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, showcasing German engineering at its finest.
Large Cars: Few Winners in Bigger Segments
Only a handful of vehicles claimed awards in the large car categories:
- The Toyota Crown earned a Top Safety Pick, but no models achieved the “+” rating.
- Genesis stole the spotlight in the large luxury car segment, sweeping the category with the Electrified G80, regular G80, and the G90 sedans, all earning Top Safety Pick+ awards.
SUVs Take Center Stage
The small SUV category saw several winners, including electric options like the Genesis GV60 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. Mazda once again showed its strength with Top Safety Pick+ awards for the:
- 2024-2025 Mazda CX-30
- 2024-2025 Mazda CX-50
In the competitive midsize SUV category, Mazda added four more Top Safety Pick+ titles with the:
- 2024-2025 CX-70
- 2025 CX-70 PHEV
- 2024-2025 CX-90
- 2025 CX-90 PHEV
Genesis stood out in the midsize luxury SUV category, earning Top Safety Pick+ awards for the GV70 (both regular and plug-in hybrid) and the GV80.
Read more: 2025 Ford Expedition SSV: Built for Police Duty
When it comes to large SUVs, only the Rivian R1S, an all-electric powerhouse, claimed a Top Safety Pick+ award.
Trucks and Minivans: Limited Recognition
In the large pickup segment, only two models earned recognition:
- The Rivian R1T (Top Safety Pick+)
- The Toyota Tundra (Top Safety Pick)
Minivans and small pickups saw fewer winners, with Top Safety Pick awards going to:
- Honda Odyssey
- Toyota Sienna
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Toyota Tacoma
Why These Awards Matter
The IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards highlight vehicles that go above and beyond to protect drivers and passengers. With Mazda and other Asian automakers dominating the field, these brands reinforce their reputation for creating vehicles that deliver not just style and performance but also unmatched safety.
Whether you’re shopping for a reliable sedan, a spacious SUV, or a versatile pickup, these awards provide peace of mind, knowing your choice has been rigorously tested to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Which of the IIHS Winners Is Your Favorite?
Did your car make the list? Which model are you most impressed by? Let us know in the comments below and share your thoughts on the 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick awards!
