Safest Cars of 2025: Top 10 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Choices
Safest Cars of 2025: IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Passenger Cars Ranked by a Transparent Composite
Hyundai Sonata leads this comparison of 12 distinct 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ passenger-car nameplates. The ranking uses a StatRanker IIHS rating composite calculated from six published IIHS ratings: small-overlap front, updated moderate-overlap front, updated side, headlights, pedestrian front crash prevention and seat-belt reminders.
The table is a compiled research dataset based on 13 official IIHS pages, with row-level source and method notes shown in the ranking table. All 12 composite values are calculated_value: the underlying IIHS ratings are official observed inputs, but the 0–100 composite is a StatRanker calculation and is not an official IIHS numeric safety score.
Target: 2025 model year. Source snapshot verified August 29, 2026. Unit: equal-weight IIHS rating composite out of 100. Direction: higher is better. Status count: 12 calculated_value, 0 official_value, 0 official_forecast, 0 modeled_projection.
Hyundai Sonata has Good ratings in all six StatRanker-selected IIHS inputs.
Audi A6 Sportback e-tron and Honda Civic hatchback share this value while remaining IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winners.
Distinct 2025 nameplates in IIHS passenger-car categories with all six required published inputs.
Every composite is calculated from official IIHS observed ratings using the same disclosed formula.
What this safest-cars ranking measures
IIHS does not publish a universal 0–100 “safest car” score. Its 2025 Top Safety Pick+ criteria require Good ratings in the small-overlap front, updated moderate-overlap front and updated side tests, plus Acceptable or Good standard headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention.
This page starts with those 2025 Top Safety Pick+ passenger-car winners and adds one extra comparison input: the IIHS seat-belt-reminder rating. Seat-belt reminders are not a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ qualification criterion; they are included only in the StatRanker composite to differentiate models with otherwise similar award-level results.
SUVs and pickups are excluded. One row is used per distinct passenger-car nameplate, which avoids mixing substantially different vehicle categories in the same ranking.
Vehicle size is not included in the composite. IIHS notes that larger, heavier vehicles generally provide more protection than smaller, lighter vehicles, so a higher composite does not mean two differently sized cars create identical occupant risk in every crash.
Top 10 entries in the 2025 IIHS rating composite
Hyundai Sonata ranks first with 100.0. Six models share second place at 95.8, while three models share eighth place at 91.7. Equal raw composite values share the same rank.
Input order: small overlap / updated moderate overlap / updated side / headlights / pedestrian front crash prevention / seat-belt reminders.
| Rank | Car | Composite /100 | Source / Method Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Sonata | 100.0 | Midsize car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. Award applies to vehicles built after November 2024. |
| 2= | Honda Accord | 95.8 | Midsize car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/A/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 2= | Hyundai Elantra | 95.8 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/G/A. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. Award applies to vehicles built after October 2024. |
| 2= | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 95.8 | Midsize electric car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 2= | Mazda 3 | 95.8 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Headlights vary G/A by trim, so A is used conservatively. Relevant crash ratings apply to sedan and hatchback. |
| 2= | Toyota Camry | 95.8 | Midsize car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 2= | Toyota Prius | 95.8 | Small hatchback; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 8= | Audi All-new A5 | 91.7 | Midsize luxury car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/G/M. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 8= | Kia K4 | 91.7 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/A. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. Award applies to vehicles built after January 2025. |
| 8= | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 91.7 | Midsize luxury car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/A/G. Headlights vary G/A, so A is used. The standard pedestrian system is A; an optional system is G. |
Ranking uses the unrounded calculated composite. Equal raw values share the same rank. Display values are rounded to one decimal place.
Chart: all 12 confirmed 2025 passenger cars
Every car in this dataset already qualifies for IIHS Top Safety Pick+. The three crashworthiness ratings used here are Good across all 12 rows, so most separation comes from headlights, pedestrian front crash prevention and the additional seat-belt-reminder input.
Methodology
The target is model year 2025. Inclusion begins with the IIHS 2025 Top Safety Pick+ list and is restricted to passenger-car categories: small cars, midsize cars, midsize luxury cars and large luxury cars. SUVs and pickups are excluded.
Metric and direction
Metric: StatRanker equal-weight IIHS rating composite. Unit: points out of 100. Higher values rank higher. The composite itself is not published by IIHS.
Official TSP+ inputs
The 2025 award framework uses three crashworthiness tests, headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention. The underlying ratings used here come directly from IIHS vehicle pages.
Additional StatRanker input
Seat-belt reminders are added as the sixth comparison input. They are not part of the 2025 Top Safety Pick+ qualification criteria.
Rating conversion
Good = 4 points, Acceptable = 3, Marginal = 2 and Poor = 1. This equal-spacing conversion is a disclosed StatRanker assumption, not an IIHS scoring rule.
Trim rule
If IIHS publishes more than one headlight rating across trims, the lower rating is used. If standard and optional pedestrian systems differ, the standard system is used.
Coverage and ties
One row is used per distinct nameplate. Equal raw composite values share the same rank. Mazda 3 is represented once even though IIHS lists sedan and hatchback variants.
Composite = (small-overlap points + updated moderate-overlap points + updated side points + headlight points + pedestrian front-crash-prevention points + seat-belt-reminder points) ÷ 24 × 100.
Example: Hyundai Sonata has G/G/G/G/G/G. That produces 24 points and a composite of 100.0. Honda Accord has G/G/G/G/A/G, or 23 points, producing 95.8333 before display rounding.
Assumptions: all six inputs receive equal weight; mixed trim-level ratings use the lower published rating; standard pedestrian equipment is used when an optional system receives a different rating; no adjustment is made for price, curb weight, drivetrain, tires or optional lane-centering features.
Build-date restrictions: IIHS award applicability is preserved. The 2025 Top Safety Pick+ award applies to Hyundai Elantra vehicles built after October 2024, Kia K4 vehicles built after January 2025 and Hyundai Sonata vehicles built after November 2024.
Missing values: none within the 12 included rows for the six required comparison inputs. Ratings that are not consistently available for every included model are not substituted into the formula.
Conflicts and source hierarchy: IIHS is the primary source for its own awards, test ratings and applicability notes. Conflicting trim ratings are not averaged. The conservative trim rule is applied instead.
Rounding: ranking uses the unrounded calculated value. Display values are rounded to one decimal place. Equal raw values share the same rank.
Limits: the composite does not estimate real-world fatality probability, insurance losses, braking distance, reliability, NHTSA stars, Euro NCAP performance, crash-partner mass, repair cost or driver behavior. It should be read as a structured comparison of selected IIHS ratings, not as a universal measure of vehicle safety.
Main ranking: 12 confirmed 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ passenger cars
Search by model, filter by IIHS car segment or data status, change sort order, or limit the view to the first 10 entries.
Input order: small overlap / updated moderate overlap / updated side / headlights / pedestrian front crash prevention / seat-belt reminders.
| Rank | Car | Composite /100 | Source / Method Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Sonata | 100.0 | Midsize car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. Award applies to vehicles built after November 2024. |
| 2= | Honda Accord | 95.8 | Midsize car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/A/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 2= | Hyundai Elantra | 95.8 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/G/A. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. Award applies to vehicles built after October 2024. |
| 2= | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 95.8 | Midsize electric car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 2= | Mazda 3 | 95.8 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Headlights vary G/A by trim, so A is used conservatively. Relevant crash ratings apply to sedan and hatchback. |
| 2= | Toyota Camry | 95.8 | Midsize car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 2= | Toyota Prius | 95.8 | Small hatchback; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/G. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 8= | Audi All-new A5 | 91.7 | Midsize luxury car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/G/M. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 8= | Kia K4 | 91.7 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/A. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. Award applies to vehicles built after January 2025. |
| 8= | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 91.7 | Midsize luxury car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/A/G. Headlights vary G/A, so A is used. Standard pedestrian system is A; an optional system is G. |
| 11= | Audi A6 Sportback e-tron | 87.5 | Large luxury electric car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/A/G/M. Headlights vary G/A by trim, so A is used conservatively. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. |
| 11= | Honda Civic hatchback | 87.5 | Small car; calculated_value; IIHS 2025. Inputs G/G/G/G/A/M. Formula: mapped points ÷ 24 × 100. The 2025 Top Safety Pick+ listing applies to the 4-door hatchback. |
Compiled research dataset verified against the IIHS 2025 award list and individual vehicle rating pages. Equal raw composite values share the same rank.
Insights from the 2025 ranking
Key Insight
Hyundai Sonata is the only included model with Good ratings in all six selected IIHS inputs, giving it the only 100.0 composite.
Notable Pattern
Crashworthiness does not separate the 12 cars: all have Good ratings in the three crash tests used by the formula. Most variation comes from headlights, pedestrian crash prevention and seat-belt reminders.
Regional/Source Concentration
Every ranking input comes from IIHS. That keeps the testing framework consistent for U.S.-market vehicles but means the table is not a combined IIHS, NHTSA and Euro NCAP score.
Outlier
Audi A6 Sportback e-tron and Honda Civic hatchback share 87.5 because of lower non-crashworthiness inputs in this formula. Both remain IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winners.
What the ranking means for car buyers
Cars with the same composite can have different strengths. Honda Accord and Hyundai Elantra both score 95.8, for example, but Accord has an Acceptable pedestrian front-crash-prevention rating while Elantra has a Good pedestrian rating and an Acceptable seat-belt-reminder rating.
Production date can also affect award eligibility. Buyers comparing specific dealer-stock or used vehicles should check the build date where IIHS applies a mid-model-year restriction.
The table can be combined with other ownership priorities rather than used alone. Fuel economy can be compared separately in the 2025 fuel-efficiency ranking, while electric-car shoppers can compare range in the 2025 EV range ranking.
FAQ
Which car leads this 2025 safety ranking?
Hyundai Sonata ranks first with a 100.0 StatRanker IIHS rating composite based on six selected published IIHS ratings.
Is 100.0 an official IIHS safety score?
No. IIHS publishes the individual ratings and Top Safety Pick+ award. StatRanker converts six selected ratings to equal-weight points and calculates the 0–100 composite.
Are seat-belt reminders part of the 2025 Top Safety Pick+ criteria?
No. They are an additional StatRanker comparison input. The 2025 Top Safety Pick+ criteria use three crashworthiness tests, headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention.
Why do several cars share the same rank?
They have identical unrounded composite values. Equal raw values therefore receive the same rank rather than being separated alphabetically.
Why are SUVs and pickups excluded?
This ranking is limited to IIHS passenger-car categories so substantially different vehicle classes are not mixed into one car table.
Why do build dates matter for some 2025 models?
IIHS can apply an award only to vehicles built after a safety-related production change. The build-date restrictions published for the Elantra, K4 and Sonata are retained in this dataset.
Does a higher composite guarantee lower injury risk in every crash?
No. Vehicle size, mass, collision speed, crash partner, road conditions, tires and driver behavior are not represented by this composite.
Sources
IIHS — 2025 Top Safety Pick award winners and criteria
Primary inclusion source for Top Safety Pick+ status, car categories, build-date restrictions and the 2025 award criteria.
IIHS — 2025 Hyundai Sonata
Official rating inputs and build-date applicability for the Sonata row.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/hyundai/sonata-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Honda Accord
Official rating inputs used for the Accord composite.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/honda/accord-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Hyundai Elantra
Official rating inputs and the after-October-2024 award applicability note.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/hyundai/elantra-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Official rating inputs used for the Ioniq 6 composite.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/hyundai/ioniq-6-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Mazda 3
Official ratings and trim-varying headlight results used under the conservative trim rule.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/mazda/3-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Toyota Camry
Official rating inputs used for the Camry composite.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/toyota/camry-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Toyota Prius
Official rating inputs used for the Prius composite.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/toyota/prius-4-door-hatchback/2025
IIHS — 2025 Audi All-new A5
Official rating inputs used for the All-new A5 composite.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/audi/all-new-a5-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Kia K4
Official ratings and the after-January-2025 award applicability note.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/kia/k4-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Official ratings used to identify headlight variation and the difference between standard and optional pedestrian systems.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/mercedes-benz/c-class-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron
Official rating inputs and trim-varying headlight ratings used for the A6 Sportback e-tron row.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/audi/a6-sportback-e-tron-4-door-sedan/2025
IIHS — 2025 Honda Civic hatchback
Official rating inputs used for the Civic hatchback composite.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/honda/civic-4-door-hatchback/2025
