Top 10 Safety Ratings for 2025 Models

Rounding out the list is the 2025 Kia Sportage, a compact SUV that has risen to the top of safety charts with its balance of affordability and protection. It earned maximum ratings in rollover resistance and side-impact safety. Kia’s Drive Wise suite includes junction-turn accident prevention, forward collision warning, and adaptive high-beam assist.

The Sportage excels in rear passenger safety, with newly designed airbags that cover windows in side crashes. It also received high marks for pedestrian safety, especially in urban accident simulations. Kia further improved its lane-keeping system with smoother corrections, reducing driver annoyance and increasing trust in the technology.

Local drivers in suburban neighborhoods appreciate its advanced child-lock reminders and rear passenger alerts. City commuters find the compact size perfect for maneuverability, paired with safety systems that react faster than human reflexes. For budget-conscious buyers who still demand top safety ratings in 2025 compact SUVs, the Kia Sportage delivers impressive value.

The 2025 BMW X5 continues to prove that German engineering and cutting-edge innovation can coexist with uncompromising safety. Long known as a benchmark in the luxury SUV category, the X5 once again earned some of the highest possible marks in global crash tests, with particularly impressive results in side-impact collisions and rollover resistance. The body structure combines high-strength steel, lightweight aluminum, and precision-designed crumple zones that effectively absorb crash energy and keep the passenger cabin intact even under severe conditions.

BMW has elevated its driver-assistance technology with the Active Guard Pro system, which integrates automatic evasive steering, cross-traffic braking, and emergency lane departure prevention. This year’s update also includes AI-based predictive mapping, where the car analyzes traffic flow patterns two to three vehicles ahead and suggests speed adjustments before a hazard even reaches the driver’s lane. In addition, the adaptive collision mitigation system evaluates road surfaces, weather conditions, and driver fatigue in real time, making subtle interventions to prevent risks before they escalate.

Rear passenger safety has also been enhanced. Crash simulations demonstrated the lowest chest injury probability scores among large SUVs, thanks to optimized airbag deployment and reinforced seat structures. BMW’s ISOFIX Plus child seat anchors make installation faster and more secure, which parents with young children find invaluable. The X5’s rear cross-traffic warning paired with automatic braking provides added peace of mind in crowded shopping centers and urban parking structures where visibility is often limited.

Local feedback adds to its reputation. In Europe, drivers highlight the exit collision warning system, which prevents opening doors into oncoming cyclists or cars in busy city streets. In North America, owners emphasize the confidence of long road trips, praising both highway stability and the extensive fatigue-prevention alerts. For luxury SUV shoppers seeking not just comfort and performance but the highest safety ratings in 2025, the BMW X5 stands out as one of the most reliable, family-friendly, and technologically advanced choices available.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 demonstrates that sleek electric sedans can compete with luxury brands in safety. Its aerodynamic design hides a reinforced passenger shell tested extensively under new Euro NCAP frontal offset rules. The Ioniq 6 achieved a rare perfect score in pedestrian impact tests, owing to its active hood system that cushions collisions.

Hyundai equips the Ioniq 6 with SmartSense 4.0, integrating autonomous emergency steering that activates when braking alone isn’t enough. The system proved invaluable in preventing side-swipe collisions at highway speeds.

Local drivers appreciate its highway assist that maintains safe distances during heavy European traffic. In Asian cities, its cyclist detection and cross-traffic alerts provide peace of mind for daily commuters. For buyers wanting affordable electric cars with best crash safety ratings in 2025, the Ioniq 6 emerges as a smart and stylish option.

As the best-selling truck in North America, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning proves that pickup trucks can achieve high safety ratings while delivering utility. In crash testing, the Lightning received superior marks for frontal and side impacts, thanks to reinforced battery housing that doubles as a crash barrier.

Ford’s BlueCruise 2.0 semi-autonomous system enhances long-haul safety by automatically handling lane centering and distance control. The Lightning also offers a 360-degree zone lighting safety feature, illuminating surroundings when parked in dark rural areas, reducing risks of roadside accidents.

Local tip: tradespeople value the Lightning’s stability during towing, aided by electronic trailer sway control and automatic braking for cross-traffic. In suburban neighborhoods, parents appreciate its automatic rear braking that detects toys, bicycles, or pedestrians behind the truck. As pickup trucks with the best safety ratings in 2025 go, the Lightning leads the way in both innovation and real-world protection.

The 2025 Honda CR-V remains a top-selling compact SUV, thanks in part to its superior safety credentials. Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure proved highly effective in offset crash tests, absorbing energy and protecting passengers from severe injury.

The CR-V’s Collision Mitigation Braking System has been upgraded with AI-based learning, reducing false alarms while providing faster real braking response. For families, the new rear-seat reminder system ensures children or pets are not accidentally left behind, addressing a critical real-world safety concern.

Local commuters often praise the CR-V’s adaptive headlights, which swivel during night turns on rural roads, improving visibility and lowering accident risks. Urban drivers appreciate its tight parking assist system, which uses sonar and overhead cameras to avoid collisions in cramped garages. The CR-V balances affordability with top safety features in 2025 SUVs, making it one of the most practical choices for young families and retirees alike.

Known for rugged durability, the 2025 Subaru Outback shines in crash prevention, making it a popular choice for adventurous families. Subaru’s EyeSight X driver-assist system now incorporates 3D mapping and cloud-based hazard updates, helping drivers anticipate risks like slippery roads or construction zones.

Crash test evaluations gave the Outback top marks for roof crush resistance and rear passenger safety. The reinforced frame uses a mix of steel and aluminum for optimal weight distribution, enhancing rollover resistance. Its pedestrian safety features, including a new front bumper energy absorber, scored among the best in its class.

Local tip: mountain drivers appreciate the Outback’s downhill stability assist combined with automatic hazard alerts, especially in snowy regions. In cities, its wide-angle front camera ensures children stepping off curbs are recognized instantly. The safest crossovers of 2025 are judged not just on crash scores but also on adaptability to diverse terrains, and the Outback excels on all fronts.

Luxury sedans often lead in innovation, and the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sets benchmarks in safety once again. It achieved maximum star ratings across Europe, North America, and Asia, demonstrating universal excellence in crash performance. Mercedes integrates cutting-edge pre-safe sound systems that prepare occupants’ ears for loud crash noise, reducing post-collision hearing damage.

The S-Class features rear occupant protection airbags, making it one of the safest vehicles for passengers seated in the back. Additionally, its advanced driver-assist suite uses LiDAR-based mapping to predict potential collisions with vehicles two lanes away, offering unmatched situational awareness.

Local drivers in congested cities praise its automatic lane-change system, which adjusts speed and steering to avoid aggressive drivers. Meanwhile, long-haul business travelers benefit from its fatigue-prevention massage seats, reducing the risk of micro-sleep episodes on highways. In 2025, the S-Class remains a benchmark for combining opulence with the highest standards of luxury car safety ratings.

The 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid may look like a traditional sedan, but it leads the midsize car segment with stellar crash safety results. Toyota’s updated Safety Sense 3.5 suite introduces next-level features such as intersection collision avoidance, adaptive headlights, and predictive pedestrian detection.

What truly sets the Camry Hybrid apart is Toyota’s new Multi-Sensor Integration system, combining radar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors for nearly flawless detection accuracy. In side-impact crash tests, the reinforced cross-member design minimized cabin intrusion, giving it high marks for passenger protection.

Local tip: daily commuters in suburban neighborhoods often highlight the Camry’s cyclist detection and proactive braking in crosswalks, which proves invaluable during school runs. Highway drivers enjoy the adaptive cruise control that smoothly handles stop-and-go traffic without sudden jerks. For buyers who want both fuel savings and highest safety ratings in 2025 sedans, the Camry Hybrid is a practical, family-friendly choice.

The 2025 Tesla Model Y+ builds on Tesla’s reputation for strong crash-test performance while adding an updated Full Self-Driving Beta system certified under the new U.S. Highway Safety Administration standards. It earned near-perfect scores in rollover resistance, thanks to its low center of gravity provided by the floor-mounted battery pack.

Tesla has improved cabin resilience by strengthening roof crush protection and implementing multi-stage airbags that adapt inflation based on passenger size and seating position. The Model Y+ is also one of the few compact SUVs equipped with a front pedestrian impact mitigation system that deploys an exterior airbag to soften collisions with pedestrians or cyclists.

Local commuters appreciate the Tesla’s quick reflexes in city driving. Its AI-driven emergency braking system recognizes jaywalking pedestrians in dim lighting, significantly reducing accident risks. On highways, Tesla’s Autopilot now integrates enhanced blind-spot monitoring, ensuring smooth lane changes even in heavy traffic. For eco-conscious buyers, the Model Y+ proves that electric cars in 2025 can achieve both top-tier safety and efficiency.

Volvo has always been synonymous with safety, and the 2025 Volvo XC90 Recharge continues that tradition while embracing electrification. This luxury SUV achieved top ratings in both European NCAP and U.S. IIHS evaluations. It’s engineered with ultra-high-strength boron steel around the passenger cell, designed to absorb and redirect crash forces during high-speed collisions. Side impact protection has been refined further, making it one of the safest SUVs for families with children.

The standout feature this year is Volvo’s new Guardian AI, an adaptive driver-assist system that predicts potential collisions two to three seconds before human reaction time. With radar, LiDAR, and camera fusion, it detects not only vehicles but also pedestrians and cyclists at night. The model also introduces driver attention monitoring, which uses infrared sensors to spot signs of drowsiness or distraction and issues gentle alerts before fatigue becomes dangerous.

Local tip: families in urban areas love the XC90’s ability to navigate crowded intersections while automatically braking for cyclists. Long-distance drivers, meanwhile, benefit from its semi-autonomous lane-keeping on highways, reducing travel stress. With sustainability combined with superior crash protection, the 2025 Volvo XC90 Recharge stands at the forefront of safest SUVs of 2025.