The IIHS Tested Seven New Cars, But Only Two Earned Safety Awards
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released safety ratings for seven new models, including vehicles from Kia, Tesla, BMW , GMC, Lexus , and Toyota. Current IIHS tests are more rigorous than they've ever been, and only two models from this group were able to achieve the agency's Top Safety Pick+ award. Issues with the moderate overlap front crash test and crash-prevention systems tripped up most models from the group, so here's a look at the two vehicles that excelled and the ones with room for improvement.
Related: The Safest New Cars Under $30,000, According to IIHS
Kia Telluride and Tesla Model Y Shine
The 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026-2027 Tesla Model Y were the only two models in the group to achieve the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest achievement available. Both SUVs attained maximum Good ratings in every crash test and crash-prevention test. The only minor blemish was for the Model Y, which had a Marginal rating for the effectiveness of its seat belt reminder system. The Telluride's award only applies to models built after June 2026, when Kia improved the vehicle's headlights; models built before this date have headlights that were rated as Marginal.
The Model Y's safety award builds on Tesla's reputation for generally excellent vehicle safety. The 2027 Telluride joins the K4, Sportage, EV9, and Sorento as Kia models that have earned a Top Safety Pick+ award.
Several Luxury Models Fall Short
2026 BMW 3 Series
BMW
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Spending more on a luxury vehicle is no guarantee that you're buying a safer car. The BMW 3 Series, BMW i4, and Lexus IS all missed out on an award. The GMC Canyon pickup and Toyota Crown Signia also fell short. Here's a look at the scores that disqualified each of these models from a Top Safety Pick+ award.
| Model |
Safety Score/s Disqualifying Model From Award |
| BMW 3 Series |
Acceptable ratings for moderate overlap front and headlight tests; Marginal rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention |
| BMW i4 |
Marginal or Poor headlight ratings; Poor vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention |
| GMC Canyon Crew Cab |
Marginal rating for moderate overlap front test; Poor rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention |
| Lexus IS |
Marginal rating for moderate overlap front test; Acceptable rating for side test |
| Toyota Crown Signia |
Marginal rating for moderate overlap front test |
The moderate overlap front crash test was made tougher in recent years, and many new vehicles struggle with it. It involves a 40-mph test where 40% of the vehicle's width strikes a deformable barrier. Often, researchers find that rear-seat passengers are more vulnerable in this test, as was the case with the Lexus IS.
None of the five models listed here are brand-new releases, so we expect new-generation versions of these models to perform better.
Why It Matters
2027 Kia Telluride after crash testIIHS
Many drivers consider vehicle safety to be an important part of the purchasing decision. While all seven vehicles listed here meet basic safety requirements and have the ability to protect occupants in a crash, the IIHS' granular testing procedure does expose vulnerabilities in certain models.
Right now, many automakers are struggling to meet the standards of the moderate overlap front and crash-prevention tests, but constant improvements are being made, so it's always worth checking the latest test results before deciding on a new vehicle. And, if you still think these tests don't matter, consider this: recent IIHS research shows that almost 50,000 lives have been saved due to the safety authority's safety tests.
Related: IIHS Says Its Crash Tests Helped Save Nearly 50,000 Lives
This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
