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 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
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