The Safest Vehicles of 2026
Vehicles that earned MotiveGrid's highest safety ratings in 2026 based on crash-test performance and active-safety technology. Rankings are shown by class to ensure fair comparisons among similar vehicles.
Key numbers
- As-ranked 2026 trims run from $25,075 to $84,100 MSRP.
- The lowest 5-year cost of ownership on this list is $38,577 for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra — about $643 a month.
How this list works
- Only vehicles that achieve an elite safety rating (top two scoring tiers) qualify for this list.
- Vehicles are ranked by safety score first. When multiple vehicles share the same safety score, the full MotiveGrid composite breaks the tie.
- Ranked by class — compact SUV, midsize SUV, 3-row SUV, sedan, truck, and EV — so each vehicle competes against similar-sized peers.
- Each entry is the representative mid-range trim, the configuration most buyers actually purchase.
Category winners: Safest Compact SUVs — Hyundai IONIQ 5 · Safest Midsize SUVs — Subaru Outback · Safest 3-Row SUVs — Hyundai Palisade · Safest Sedans — Honda Accord · Safest Trucks — Tesla Cybertruck · Safest EVs — Hyundai IONIQ 5.
Safest Compact SUVs
Compact SUVs that achieved an elite safety rating. Ordered by safety score first, then overall MotiveGrid composite score to break ties.
- MSRP$39,8005-yr cost$50,277100/100Safety80Overall
Leads its class on Driver Assistance and Safety; trails on Livability.
- MSRP$45,9905-yr cost$58,434100/100Safety74Overall
Leads its class on Safety; strong on Powertrain; trails on Driver Assistance.
- MSRP$28,3005-yr cost$39,12299/100Safety85Overall
Leads its class on Cost of Ownership; strong on Livability.
Top Overall Pick Among Elite-Safety Safest Compact SUVs: Hyundai IONIQ 5
Safest Midsize SUVs
Midsize SUVs that achieved an elite safety rating. Ordered by safety score first, then overall MotiveGrid composite score to break ties.
- MSRP$44,3655-yr cost$57,152100/100Safety82Overall
Leads its class on Livability; strong on Cost of Ownership.
- MSRP$34,9005-yr cost$46,01499/100Safety86Overall
Leads its class on Cost of Ownership; strong on Livability.
- MSRP$47,9955-yr cost$65,95199/100Safety70Overall
Leads its class on Driver Assistance; trails on Cost of Ownership.
Top Overall Pick Among Elite-Safety Safest Midsize SUVs: Subaru Outback
Safest 3-Row SUVs
Three-row SUVs that achieved an elite safety rating. Ordered by safety score first, then overall MotiveGrid composite score to break ties.
- MSRP$49,7705-yr cost$66,062100/100Safety81Overall
Leads its class on Livability; strong on Driver Assistance; trails on Powertrain.
- MSRP$48,9655-yr cost$71,03599/100Safety74Overall
Strong for its class on Driver Assistance and Powertrain; trails on Livability.
- MSRP$42,0405-yr cost$60,65097/100Safety79Overall
Leads its class on Livability; strong on Cost of Ownership; trails on Driver Assistance.
Top Overall Pick Among Elite-Safety Safest 3-Row SUVs: Hyundai Palisade
Safest Sedans
Sedans that achieved an elite safety rating. Ordered by safety score first, then overall MotiveGrid composite score to break ties.
- MSRP$33,7955-yr cost$40,616100/100Safety85Overall
Strong for its class on Cost of Ownership and Driver Assistance.
- MSRP$84,1005-yr cost$90,514100/100Safety54Overall
Leads its class on Safety; trails on Cost of Ownership.
- MSRP$25,0755-yr cost$38,57799/100Safety90Overall
Strong for its class on Cost of Ownership and Livability.
Top Overall Pick Among Elite-Safety Safest Sedans: Honda Accord
Safest Trucks
Pickup trucks that achieved an elite safety rating. Ordered by safety score first, then overall MotiveGrid composite score to break ties.
- MSRP$79,9905-yr cost$83,048100/100Safety71Overall
Leads its class on Safety; strong on Livability; trails on Driver Assistance.
- MSRP$63,6955-yr cost$66,92897/100Safety70Overall
Leads its class on Cost of Ownership; strong on Driver Assistance; trails on Livability.
- MSRP$40,3155-yr cost$47,70193/100Safety71Overall
Leads its class on Powertrain; trails on Livability.
Top Overall Pick Among Elite-Safety Safest Trucks: Tesla Cybertruck
Safest EVs
Electric vehicles that achieved an elite safety rating. Ordered by safety score first, then overall MotiveGrid composite score to break ties.
- MSRP$39,8005-yr cost$50,277100/100Safety80Overall
Leads its class on Driver Assistance and Safety; trails on Livability.
- MSRP$45,9905-yr cost$58,434100/100Safety74Overall
Leads its class on Safety; strong on Powertrain; trails on Driver Assistance.
- MSRP$79,9905-yr cost$83,048100/100Safety71Overall
Leads its class on Safety; strong on Livability; trails on Driver Assistance.
Top Overall Pick Among Elite-Safety Safest EVs: Hyundai IONIQ 5
Ranked by safety, with the MotiveGrid composite score (five pillars, safety weighted heaviest) breaking ties. Each pick is the model’s representative mid-range trim. How we score →
Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · scores updated 2026-07-25