An SUV and a hybrid sedan qualified for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ designation – the insurance industry group’s highest award – in the latest round of testing.
The IIHS said the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Prius were the only two vehicles out of 14 tested to qualify for the Top Safety Pick+ designation. The results come as the IIHS said SUVs made up 35 of 45 winners in the group’s final round of Top Safety Pick+ designations earlier this year, the latest sign of a shift toward larger vehicles in the United States auto market.
“To qualify for any awards this year, vehicles need headlights with good ratings in moderate overlap front, small overlap front and side crash tests, and acceptable or good ratings on all trim levels,” the IIHS said.
“For a Top Safety Pick, the only other requirement is an Acceptable or Good rating in the pedestrian front crash test,” the IIHS said. “To earn ‘Plus’, vehicles need an acceptable or good rating in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention assessment introduced last year, along with a good rating in that assessment.”
The IIHS has said it wants carmakers to improve safety in all types of vehicles. “This year, we’re asking automakers to make excellent safety for rear-seat passengers the norm,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “For Top Safety Pick+, we need a crash avoidance system that is better at preventing pedestrian crashes as well as high-speed crashes with other vehicles.”
Hyundai Palisade
MSRP: $38,935 | IIHS Rating: Top Security Pick+
Cole Stutz, chief safety officer of Hyundai Motor North America, said the designation “reflects a significant accomplishment for the company’s engineering and product development teams” and “underscores Hyundai’s ongoing dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards within the automotive industry.”
toyota prius
MSRP: $28,550 | IIHS Rating: Top Security Pick+
Toyota said in a press release that when the Prius first hit the US market it was “nothing short of a revolution” and that its 2026 form has evolved into “a stunning embodiment of sportiness and aggression.”
Which cars missed the cut?
The following vehicles were tested but did not receive Top Safety Pick designation:
- 2026 audi a3 sedan
- 2026 BMW 3 Series
- 2026 BMW i4
- 2026 chevrolet equinox
- 2026 Ford Maverick Crew Cab
- 2026 ford ranger crew cab
- 2026 honda ridgeline mini crew cab
- 2026 kia k4 hatchback
- 2026 jeep compass
- 2026 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
- 2026 toyota 4runner
- 2026 toyota corolla sedan
- 2026 toyota land cruiser
- 2026 toyota sequoia
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.