2018 Top Safety Picks
Vehicles that perform best in our evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
Small cars
Top Safety Pick
2018 Chevrolet Volt 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2019 Honda Insight 4-door sedan
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Hyundai Elantra 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights;
applies only to vehicles built after December 2017
Top Safety Pick
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Kia Forte 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights; applies only to sedans
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Kia Niro Hybrid 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Kia Soul 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Mazda 3 4-door hatchback
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Mazda 3 4-door sedan
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Nissan Kicks 4-door hatchback
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018-19 Nissan Sentra 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Subaru Crosstrek 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights;
applies only to vehicles built after April 2018
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Subaru Impreza 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Subaru Impreza 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Subaru WRX 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2019 Toyota Corolla 4-door hatchback
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Corolla 4-door sedan
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Prius 4-door hatchback
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Prius Prime 4-door hatchback
2018 criteria
To qualify for 2018 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. It also must earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and a good headlight rating.
To qualify for 2018 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also must earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and an acceptable or good headlight rating.
Vehicles with optional front crash prevention qualify for either award only when equipped with the technology.