Safety First: The Safest SUVs for 2023

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) made changes to its safety rating criteria for 2023 model-year vehicles. In order for a vehicle to earn a Top Safety Pick+, the organization's highest honor, a vehicle must earn a Good rating in every crash test including the updated driver- and passenger-side small overlap front tests, the original moderate overlap front test, and the updated side test. Additionally, headlights must earn a Good or Acceptable rating and either a Superior or Advanced rating for both the daytime and the new nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tests.

Active safety tech required for crash avoidance and mitigation tests includes forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. Many of the Top Safety Pick+ winners feature additional active safety tech.

With the stricter criteria, only 28 vehicles earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Here is a look at the 17 crossovers and SUVs that earned the highest marks. Many were also given five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Remember, active safety tech is designed to enhance driver safety awareness—not replace it.