Look, let’s be honest for a second. When you’re standing in a car dealership, staring at a window sticker that feels like it costs more than your first car, “safety” is one of those buzzwords everyone throws around. Marketing guys love to slap “Advanced Safety Technologies” on a brochure. But how do you actually know if that thing is going to save your life when the day comes?
You don’t need to trust the manufacturer’s word. You need the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And if you’re looking at buying a car in 2024 or 2025, the Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards aren’t just stickers—they’re the gold standard for keeping you alive.
I’ve spent years digging through crash test data, talking to engineers, and watching cars get crumpled in slow motion just to understand how this stuff works. So, let’s cut through the noise. Here’s everything you need to know about the IIHS awards, how they’re won, and why you should literally base your entire car-buying decision on them.
What on Earth is the IIHS, Anyway?
First, a quick refresher. The IIHS isn’t the government. It’s not NHTSA (that’s the federal agency you see on gas pump stickers). The IIHS is a 501©(3) nonprofit funded by auto insurers. Why insurers? Because they lose billions every year when people get hurt or killed in cars. They have a very strong financial incentive to make sure you don’t get crushed in a sedan.
They conduct their own crash tests, independent of the manufacturers. This matters because, historically, governments were testing for the crash standards of the 1970s while cars were already much more dangerous in real-world scenarios. The IIHS tests how cars actually perform in the kinds of crashes that happen on real roads today.
The 2023-2024 Overhaul: Why 2024 and 2025 Are Different
Here is the part most people miss. In 2023, the IIHS completely overhauled their rating system. If you’re looking at a 2020 or 2021 model, you might see different ratings. But for 2024 and 2025 models, the bar is higher than it has ever been.
The old system had three tiers: Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Poor. The new system is stricter, and it adds a new category: Basic. Yes, a car can now get a “Basic” rating on a crash test. That never happened before.
The New Smaller Overlap Front Test
One of the biggest changes was the introduction of a new smaller overlap front test (the 25% overlap). The old test covered 40% of the vehicle’s width. The new one only covers 25%. This simulates hitting a tree, a light pole, or the side of a semi-truck trailer. These are some of the most deadly crashes on the road.
Before this change, many cars were passing the 40% test but failing miserably in the smaller overlap. The 2024+ awards reflect this. Cars that were “Top Safety Pick” in 2022 might not qualify in 2025.
The Headlight Rating System
The IIHS now rates headlights on a score from 0 to 10. This is huge. A car might have great crash protection but terrible lights that blind other drivers or fail to illuminate the road. In the 2024⁄2025 awards, you cannot get a top award if your headlights are rated “Poor” or “Marginal.” They must be at least “Acceptable.”
How the Award Works: The Recipe for a “Top Safety Pick+”
To get the Top Safety Pick+ (the highest honor), a vehicle has to pass a gauntlet. It’s not enough to just be safe in a head-on crash. You need to be safe in every dimension. Here is the checklist a 2024 or 2025 car must clear:
- Driver Side Small Overlap Front: Must rate “Good.”
- Passenger Side Small Overlap Front: Must rate “Good.”
- Moderate Overlap Front: Must rate “Good.”
- Side (Original Test): Must rate “Good” or “Acceptable.”
- Side (Updated Test): This is the new test involving a heavier, more realistic barrier. Must rate “Good” or “Acceptable.”
- Roof Strength: Must rate “Good” or “Acceptable.” (This ensures the roof doesn’t cave in if the car rolls over.)
- Head Restraints & Seats: Must rate “Good” or “Acceptable” (This reduces whiplash.)
- Available Headlights: Must be rated “Good” or “Acceptable” (Score of 7+ usually needed for top tier).
- Available Front Crash Prevention: Must be rated “Good” or “Acceptable” (This is the auto-braking/avoidance system).
- Child Latch Ease of Use: Must be rated “Acceptable” (So you can actually install the car seat correctly.)
If a car misses any one of these, it falls out of the Top Safety Pick+ category. It might still be a “Top Safety Pick” (the silver tier), but to be the best of the best, you need the Plus.
2024 and 2025 Top Safety Pick+ Winners: Who Made the Cut?
Let’s talk about specific cars. This is where it gets real for you, the buyer. Here are some standouts from the 2024 and 2025 award lists that prove safety doesn’t require sacrificing style or performance.
The Electric Revolution: Hyundai Ioniq 5 & Kia EV6
These two sister cars nailed the 2024⁄2025 tests. Why? Because battery placement actually helps structural rigidity. The floor is flat and strong, acting like a monocoque. But they also excelled in the new small overlap tests, which is impressive for a wide, low EV.
- Headlights: Top-tier LED options available.
- Crash Avoidance: Their Highway Assist Plus system is one of the best-in-class for keeping you centered and braking early.
The Midsize Sedan King: Toyota Camry (2025 Model)
The Camry has been a safety workhorse for decades. The 2025 redesign is a beast. It received Good ratings across all crashworthiness tests, including the tough new side barrier test.
- Why it matters: This is the car most Americans drive. If the Camry can crack the Top Safety Pick+ list, it means mainstream safety is reaching a new high.
- Headlights: The XSE trim with adaptive LEDs scored highly, but note that base models might have lower-rated halogens. Always check the specific trim.
The Luxury Compact: Genesis GV70
Luxury cars used to be less safe because they were heavier and rushed to market. The GV70 flipped that. It earned the top honor for 2024 and 2025.
- The Detail: The IIHS praised its pedestrian head protection. In a collision with a pedestrian, the hood is designed to absorb energy rather than crack a skull. This is a detail most people don’t think about, but it’s part of the rigorous testing.
The Unexpected Winner: Honda CR-V
The CR-V is a family hauler. For 2025, it secured the Top Safety Pick+ award. This is significant because compact SUVs are hard to get right. They’re tall, which raises the center of gravity, and they’re often bought by families who prioritize space over engineering.
- Real-World Example: A 2025 CR-V with the Touring trim includes the full Honda Sensing suite. In IIHS testing, this system successfully avoided collisions in 80% of frontal overlap scenarios at 25 mph and 12 mph. That’s not marketing; that’s data.
A Note on the “Disqualified”
You might be surprised to see some popular cars missing from the list. For example, certain trims of the Tesla Model Y or BMW 3 Series have faced challenges with headlight ratings or rear crash prevention in recent years.
- Don’t panic. This doesn’t mean the car is dangerous. It means it wasn’t optimal for the new 2024+ criteria. Always check the specific trim. A base model with poor headlights will fail, while the premium package with superior lights will pass.
Why This Actually Matters to Your Wallet and Your Life
You might be thinking, “I’ll just buy the car with the most airbags.” That’s not enough. Airbags are a passive safety feature. They deploy after the crash has started.
The IIHS awards focus heavily on active safety and structural integrity.
1. Insurance Premiums
Let’s talk money. Insurers use IIHS data. If you buy a car that is a Top Safety Pick, your premiums are often lower. Why? Because statistically, you are less likely to file a total loss claim. Over 5 years, that could save you thousands. It’s not just about the sticker price; it’s about the cost of ownership.
2. The “Hidden” Injury Protection
Most people worry about the crash itself. But what about whiplash? What about the steering column collapsing into your legs? The IIHS tests these things. They measure how much the steering wheel moved backward in a crash. They measure neck forces in a rear-impact sled test. When a car gets a “Good” rating for “Head Restraints & Seats,” it means the physics of the seat design actually works to stop your head from snapping back and injuring your spine.
3. Child Safety
The IIHS awards require a rating for Child Latch Ease of Use. This is a practical, hands-on test. Inspectors try to install a car seat in every seating position. If the anchors are hidden under plastic covers or too hard to reach, the car gets a lower score.
- Example: I once saw a parents’ guide where a popular minivan was disqualified from the top tier because the LATCH anchors in the second row were buried. This forced manufacturers to redesign for accessibility. Your child’s car seat being installed correctly is the difference between life and death in a side-impact crash.
Common Misconceptions About IIHS Ratings
Myth 1: “NHTSA 5-Star Ratings are enough.” NHTSA is the government. Their tests are important but minimal. They test at lower speeds and older overlap standards. A car can get a 5-star NHTSA rating and still be a “Poor” performer in the IIHS small overlap test. Always check IIHS if you want the true picture.
Myth 2: “Heavier cars are always safer.” Not necessarily. In a crash between two heavy SUVs, both drivers might be fine because the cars are built to withstand each other. But if a heavy SUV hits a pedestrian or a small car, the outcome is devastating. The IIHS rates how well your car protects you, regardless of weight. A well-engineered compact car can be safer than a poorly engineered full-size truck.
Myth 3: “Top Safety Pick means I can drive recklessly.” Absolutely not. The IIHS explicitly states that these awards are for crashworthiness and crash avoidance. They do not account for drunk driving, speeding, or texting. A Top Safety Pick+ car might save you in a low-speed rear-end collision, but it cannot stop you from hitting a tree at 80 mph.
How to Check a Car Yourself (The Pro Tip)
Before you go to the dealership, do this:
- Go to iihs.org.
- Search for the car you’re interested in.
- Click on “Crashworthiness.”
- Look at the Small Overlap Front: Driver Side. This is the most brutal test. If it says “Poor” or “Marginal,” walk away.
- Check Headlights. Read the comments. Did the high beams blind oncoming traffic? Did the turn signals fail to illuminate the corner?
- Check Front Crash Prevention. Look for the “Superior” or “Advanced” rating. This means the auto-braking system works well at night and in urban settings.
The Bottom Line
The IIHS Top Safety Pick awards for 2024 and 2025 represent the most rigorous safety testing in automotive history. The shift to smaller overlap tests, stricter headlight requirements, and real-world side barrier impacts means that the cars on these lists are genuinely safer than the ones from five years ago.
When you see that badge on a windshield, it’s not just marketing. It’s a promise that engineers fought hard to make sure that in the worst moment of your life, the car does everything it can to keep you breathing. And in this industry, that’s the most important feature you can buy.