The Safest Cars for 2021

There’s some good news for everyone on the road: today’s cars are safer than ever before. The number of cars, trucks and SUVs earning the highest ratings from the nonprofit that assesses vehicle safety more than doubled for the 2021 model year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recognized 49 models for providing the highest level of safety, earning the Top Safety Pick+. Another 41 vehicles earned Top Safety Pick (without the plus), bringing the total number of 2021 award winners to 90, compared with only 64 in 2020.

Manufacturers have responded well to the challenge of meeting modern-day safety expectations, according to the president of IIHS. The widespread availability and rapid advances in sensor technology, improvements in crash-test performance and other advanced safety features, and upgrades to engineering and design have led the way for more new vehicles being highly rated for safety than ever before.

Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ Awards

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards are given to vehicles that perform admirably in crash testing and other evaluations performed by the organization. The annual list is intended to give consumers an easy and efficient way to identify vehicles with the best level of safety available.

Not surprisingly, the automakers long associated with safety innovations garnered the most awards: Volvo received the most picks in the top category, Top Safety Pick+, with nine cars. Hyundai Motor Group, including the Hyundai, Kia and Geneses brands, earned the most overall with 17 awards (12 regular Top Safety Pick and five Top Safety Pick+). Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru also earned a number of awards. This year’s awards also included two minivans, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, which qualified for the Top Safety Pick+ award and a pickup truck, the Ram 1500, which qualified for the Top Safety Pick. A year ago, there were no minivans or pickups on the list.

Contrarily, Mitsubishi has failed to earn a single award so far while General Motors, one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, received only two awards this year.

2021 Insurance Institute of Highway Safety Award Winners

SUVs and crossovers make up one of the fastest-growing new car markets in the United States. The growing popularity of these types of vehicles underscores the demand for comfort, passenger and cargo space, and safety features. While today’s larger cars and SUVs still afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones and are generally considered safer than their smaller counterparts, small to mid-sized vehicles have made significant strides and their label as being “unsafe” is one of the past. According to U.S. News & World Report, “many of the latest compact and subcompact cars are outfitted with advanced driver assistance features that can significantly reduce a vehicle’s impact speed or help prevent a collision altogether – features that were exclusive to luxury vehicles not long ago. More-effective crumple zones and higher-strength structural materials have also trickled down to these affordable models.”

No matter the size or type of vehicle, it is apparent that most automakers are making safety a top priority. The IIHS awards winners in 11 size categories, from small cars to large pickups. Take a look at the winners:

TOP SAFETY PICK+ AWARD WINNERS

TOP SAFETY PICK AWARD WINNERS

Car Accident Lawyers at Chalat Hatten & Banker

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