2021 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+

2022 Honda Civic 4-door hatchback

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Honda Civic 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick

2021 Honda Civic 4-door hatchback

with specific headlights and does not apply to Type R performance variant

Top Safety Pick

2021 Honda Civic 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Honda Insight 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Hyundai Elantra 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Hyundai Veloster 2-door hatchback

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Kia Forte 4-door sedan

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Kia Soul 4-door wagon

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Mazda 3 4-door hatchback

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Mazda 3 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Nissan Sentra 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Subaru Crosstrek 4-door wagon

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 4-door wagon

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Subaru Impreza 4-door wagon

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Subaru Impreza 4-door sedan

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Subaru WRX 4-door sedan

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Toyota Corolla 4-door hatchback

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Toyota Corolla 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Midsize cars

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Honda Accord 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Hyundai Sonata 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Kia K5 4-door sedan

built after November 2020

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Mazda 6 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Nissan Altima 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Nissan Maxima 4-door sedan

applies only to vehicles built after November 2020

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Subaru Legacy 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Subaru Outback 4-door wagon

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Toyota Camry 4-door sedan

Midsize luxury cars

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Acura TLX 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Audi A4 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Audi A5 Sportback 4-door hatchback

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 BMW 2 series Gran Coupe 4-door sedan

with specific headlights
applies only to vehicles built after December 2020

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 BMW 3 series 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Lexus ES 350 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Lexus ES 350 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Lexus IS 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door sedan

built after January 2021 with optional front crash prevention

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Tesla Model 3 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo S60 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo S60 Recharge 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo V60 4-door wagon

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo V60 Cross Country 4-door wagon

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo V60 Recharge 4-door wagon

Large cars

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Kia Stinger 4-door hatchback

Top Safety Pick

2021 Kia Stinger 4-door hatchback

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2022 Toyota Avalon 4-door sedan

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Volkswagen Arteon 4-door hatchback

with specific headlights

Large luxury cars

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi A6 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi A6 allroad 4-door wagon

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi A7 4-door hatchback

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Genesis G70 4-door sedan

applies only to vehicles built after June 2021

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Genesis G70 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Genesis G80 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Genesis G90 4-door sedan

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4-door sedan

built after November 2020 with optional front crash prevention

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo S90 4-door sedan

applies only to vehicles built after September 2020

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo S90 Recharge 4-door sedan

applies only to vehicles built after September 2020

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo V90 4-door wagon

applies only to vehicles built after September 2020

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo V90 Cross Country 4-door wagon

applies only to vehicles built after September 2020

Small SUVs

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Buick Encore GX 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Chevrolet Equinox 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Ford Bronco Sport 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021 Ford Escape 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Honda CR-V 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Hyundai Kona 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Hyundai Tucson 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021 Hyundai Tucson 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Hyundai Venue 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Kia Seltos 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights;
applies only to vehicles built after August 2020

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Kia Sportage 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Lexus UX 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Lincoln Corsair 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Mazda CX-3 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Mazda CX-30 4-door SUV

built after September 2020

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Mazda CX-5 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander 4-door SUV

built after June 2021

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Nissan Rogue 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Subaru Forester 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021 Toyota C-HR 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Toyota RAV4 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Toyota Venza 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo XC40 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo XC40 Recharge 4-door SUV

Midsize SUVs

Top Safety Pick

2021 Chevrolet Traverse 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Ford Edge 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Ford Explorer 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Ford Mustang Mach-E 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Hyundai Palisade 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-door SUV

built after July 2021

Top Safety Pick

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Kia Sorento 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Mazda CX-9 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Nissan Murano 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Subaru Ascent 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Toyota Highlander 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volkswagen ID.4 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Midsize luxury SUVs

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Acura MDX 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Acura RDX 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi Q5 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi Q5 Sportback 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2022 BMW X5 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Cadillac XT6 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2022 Genesis GV70 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Genesis GV80 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Hyundai Nexo 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Lexus NX 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Lexus RX 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Lincoln Aviator 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Lincoln Nautilus 4-door SUV

with specific headlights
applies only to vehicles built after March 2021

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Mercedes-Benz GLC 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4-door SUV

with optional front crash prevention

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Tesla Model Y 4-door SUV

applies only to vehicles built after April 2021

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo XC60 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo XC90 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Volvo XC90 Recharge 4-door SUV

Large SUVs

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi e-tron 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Audi e-tron Sportback 4-door SUV

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Audi Q8 4-door SUV

with specific headlights

Minivans

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Chrysler Pacifica minivan

applies only to vehicles built after September 2021

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Honda Odyssey minivan

Top Safety Pick

2022 Kia Carnival minivan

built after March 2021 and with specific headlights

Top Safety Pick+

2021-22 Toyota Sienna minivan

Small pickups

Top Safety Pick

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz crew cab pickup

with specific headlights

Large pickups

Top Safety Pick

2021 Ford F-150 crew cab pickup

with specific headlights
applies only to vehicles built after June 2021

Top Safety Pick

2021 Ford F-150 extended cab pickup

with specific headlights
applies only to vehicles built after June 2021

Top Safety Pick

2021-22 Ram 1500 crew cab pickup

with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2021 criteria

Top Safety Pick +

  • G Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests
  • AdvancedSuperior Advanced or superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
  • AGAcceptable or good headlights standard

Top Safety Pick

  • G Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests
  • AdvancedSuperior Advanced or superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
  • AGAcceptable or good headlights available

Other years