The safety verdict is in. Consumer Reports has named Mazda the safest car brand in North America.

The non-profit consumer publication released its analysis, which it calls a safety verdict, of the safest vehicle brands on Feb. 3, 2026.

Mazda came out on top while Genesis and Acura were not far behind.

The verdict is based on what Consumer Reports called a straightforward criteria. Vehicles that get a “basic” score meet the bare minimum federal safety standards but lack protections the publication says should be available to all consumers.

Vehicles that get a “better” score exceed the minimum criteria but may lack certain safety features or may not have undergone newer crash tests, or they may have distracting controls.

Vehicles that get a “best” score excel in crash tests, come standard with key crash-prevention features, handle predictably and don’t have distracting controls, Consumer Reports said.

“A safe car has predictable handling and braking in everyday driving and emergencies, controls that don’t distract you, technology that can prevent a crash in the first place, and a design that protects occupants if a crash occurs,” said Emily A. Thomas, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports, in a news release. “The safety verdict rating, now available for free on all new-car model pages at CR.org/cars, makes it simple for car owners and shoppers to understand the level of safety a car provides.”

Top 10 safest brands

The vehicle brands that scored in the top 10 of the publication’s safety verdict are as follows:

1. Mazda
2. Genesis
3. Acura
4. Lincoln
5. Hyundai
6. Honda
7. Nissan
8. Audi
9. Subaru
10. Kia

The publication penalized certain brands (ahem Volvo, Tesla) that perform well in crash tests and have effective crash-prevention technology due to their reliance on centre touchscreens for the use of various vehicle functions such as controlling the climate or audio.

“If controlling climate or audio functions distracts you from the task of driving, that’s a strike against safety,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at CR, in the release.

To see the full list, as well as to see the percentage breakdown of how many of each automaker’s vehicles received basic, better and best scores, visit the Consumer Reports website.

Mazda says safety is foundational to brand

Mazda, which scored tops in the analysis, said the achievement reflects its disciplined pursuit of top ratings in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests and the brand’s human-centric engineering philosophy.

“Safety is foundational to Mazda’s engineering philosophy, and we are honoured that Consumer Reports has recognized our unwavering commitment to helping protect drivers, passengers, and everyone who shares the road,” Mazda North American Operations director of vehicle safety Jennifer Morrison said in a news release.

“This recognition reflects the work of our global engineering teams to integrate advanced safety technologies and outstanding vehicle dynamics into every model we build.”

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