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Are you thinking of picking up a new SUV for the new year? When shopping for a new car, we all have one priority in common: we want to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe on the road. We used Kelly Blue Book’s (KBB) industry standard safety ratings, as well the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash tested ratings to calculate the safest SUVs of 2026.
Best Safety Rated SUVs of 2026
#10. 2026 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
(KBB Expert Rating: 4.5/5; NHTSA Safety Rating: 5/5)
A midsize 3-row crossover SUV with great efficiency
Among the top in crash-test scores by the NHTSA
Features automatic emergency braking, active lane control (with lane departure warning and lane keeping assist), traction control and blind-spot monitors
2021 toyota highlander
photo credit: vivoo – stock.adobe.com
#9. 2026 Acura MDX
(KBB Expert Rating: 4.5/5; not yet rated by NHTSA)
Has a roomy interior, luxurious 3-row SUV; very popular model for Acura
Features a standard onboard Amazon Alexa
Features a stronger chassis, meaning the structure of the car will absorb and distribute crash energy more effectively
Has something called AcuraWatch: its standard safety suite with forward-collision warning, auto emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), road-departure mitigation (alerts drivers when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use), a lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, a rear cross-traffic monitor, and
Many SUVs on this list utilize automation technology, read more about it a driver attention monitor here
acura mdx
photo credit: wikimedia commons
#8. 2026 Audi Q3
(KBB Expert Rating: 4.6/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Like the Acura, in the class of luxury subcompact SUVs with a refined ride and high-end tech features
Standard driver assistance features: Audi pre sense basic (tightens seat belts and rolls up windows if sensors detect an imminent collision); Audi pre sense front (forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection); Audi side assist (blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert); automatic high-beam headlights; rain-sensing windshield wipers; lane departure warning; rearview camera; front and rear parking sensors
Available driver assistance features: surround view parking camera system; adaptive headlights; parallel and perpendicular park assist; traffic sign recognition; adaptive cruise control
audi q3
photo credit: wikimedia commons
#7. 2026 Hyundai Palisade
(KBB Expert Rating: 4.6/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Plenty of space for people and cargo
Added more standard driver assistance features for 2026, you can read more about the features that will become standard in the future here
Standard driver assistance features: rearview camera; rear parking sensors; forward collision warning; pedestrian detection; automatic emergency braking; adaptive cruise control; lane keep assist; blind spot monitoring; rear cross traffic alert; vehicle exit warning; driver drowsiness monitoring
Available driver assistance features: front parking sensors, surround-view parking camera system; head-up display
hyundai palisade
photo credit: jetcityimage – stock.adobe.com
#6. 2026 Ford Bronco Sport
(KBB Expert Rating: 4.6/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Distinct Bronco aesthetic; more of a city car than its original cousin the Ford Bronco
Pre-collision assist; lane-keeping system; 180-degree front camera; crash imminent braking; dynamic brake support (automatically adds brake pressure if the vehicle senses the driver’s braking pressure is insufficient to stop the vehicle before an accident)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick
Ford Bronco Sport
photo credit: wikimedia commons
#5. 2026 Audi Q5
(KBB Expert Rating: 4.7/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Well-balanced ride, luxury interior
Standard driver assistance features: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking; automatic high-beam headlights; blind spot monitoring; rear cross traffic alert; lane departure warning; front and rear parking sensors; rearview camera
Available driver assistance features: lane keep assist; adaptive cruise control; traffic jam assist (manages braking, acceleration, and steering in low-speed traffic conditions); surround view parking camera system; head-up display; traffic sign recognition
Audi Q5
photo credit: Jan Kliment – stock.adobe.com
#4. 2026 Honda CR-V
(KBB Expert Rating 4.7/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
One of the original compact SUVs and still one of the best: takes the driveability and efficiency of a Honda sedan and packages it as a versatile SUV
Collision mitigation braking system; road departure mitigation; adaptive cruise control
“Honda sensing”
2026 Honda CRV
photo credit: vivoo – stock.adobe.com
#3. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
(KBB Expert Rating 4.7/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Great fuel economy, roomy interior, and generous standard features
Smart cruise control; safe exit assist; automatic emergency braking
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
photo credit: jetcityimage – stock.adobe.com
#2. 2026 Genesis GV80
(KBB Expert Rating 4.8/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Luxury and tech features aplenty, impressively smooth ride, two rows of plush seats
Driver attention warning, highway driving assist II (a lane-change assistance function and a machine learning capability to better match the adaptive cruise control system’s behavior to your driving style), and forward collision-avoidance assist (visual, audible, and/or tactile alerts to warn a driver of an impending collision with a car or object directly in its forward path)
2021 Genesis GV80
photo credit: wikimedia commons
#1. 2026 Kia Telluride
(KBB Expert Rating 4.8/5; NHTSA Safety Rating 5/5)
Roomy interior, long list of standard features, great price
Standard safety features: highway driving assist; navigation-based smart cruise control curve; safe exit assist; forward collision warning; forward automatic emergency braking; pedestrian and cyclist detection; lane departure warning; lane keep assist; adaptive cruise control; blind spot monitoring; rear cross traffic alert; driver attention monitoring; rear parking sensors; rear-seat alert (reminds the driver of back seat passengers when exiting the vehicle)
Available driver assistance features: blind spot camera, automatic high-beam headlights; surround-view parking camera system; head-up display; front parking sensors; rain-sensing windshield wipers
2026 Kia Telluride
photo credit: Mike Mareen – stock.adobe.com
There are so many great options for a safe SUV in 2026. Thinking about a different type of vehicle or slightly older model? Check out the safest cars of 2021. No matter what kind of SUV or car you buy, you’ll need the right kind of insurance. Elephant Insurance can provide customized car insurance coverage to get you on the road. To see how you can save on insuring your new safe car, get your free quote today.
