The United States-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has expanded its list of vehicles that meet its 2026 safety award criteria.

One new vehicle was added to the awards list and another was upgraded to an upper-tier recognition on Thursday, May 14.

The Hyundai Palisade was newly added to the IIHS’s top-tier Top Safety Pick+ award list, while the Toyota Prius received an upgrade from the lower-tier Top Safety Pick award to Top Safety Pick+.

The IIHS said the Prius jumped to the higher tier thanks to new result in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation.

The IIHS also noted 14 other vehicles were tested and did not meet the safety criteria.

The IIHS continues testing vehicles through the year so we can expect more vehicle makes and models to be added to the list through the year.

With the addition of the Palisade, and the move up by the Prius, the IIHS’s 2026 safety awards now recognize 64 vehicles named, 17 with the Top Safety Pick designation and 47 with a Top Safety Pick+ award.

The awards criteria is tougher for 2026, with the IIHS pointing out the Top Safety Pick+ requires crash avoidance systems that are better at preventing pedestrian crashes and higher speed crashes with other vehicles.

Vehicles must receive a good rating in the moderate overlap front test to earn either the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award.

This year, the criteria also includes also vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention tests. These tests are conducted at speeds of 50, 60 and 70 km/h with a passenger car target as well as motorcycle and semi-trailer tests.

Let’s take a look at the award recipients

2026 Top Safety Pick+

Small cars:

• Kia K4
• Mazda3 Sport (hatchback)
• Mazda3 (sedan)
• Nissan Sentra
• Toyota Prius

Midsize cars:

• Hyundai Sonata
• Toyota Camry

Midsize luxury cars:

• Audi A5

Large luxury cars:

• 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron
• Genesis G80 (built after June 2025)

Small SUVs:

• Genesis GV60
• Honda HR-V
• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Hyundai Kona
• Hyundai Tucson
• Kia Sportage (built after May 2025)
• Mazda CX-30
• Mazda CX-50
• Subaru Forester

Midsize SUVs:

• Honda Passport
• Hyundai Ioniq 9
• Hyundai Palisade
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Kia EV9
• Kia Sorento (built after September 2025)
• Mazda CX-70
• Mazda CX-70 PHEV
• Mazda CX-90
• Mazda CX-90 PHEV
• Nissan Murano
• Nissan Pathfinder
• Subaru Ascent
• Subaru Outback

Midsize luxury SUVs:

• Audi Q5
• Audi Q5 Sportback
• 2027 Audi Q6 e-tron
• 2027 Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron
• BMW X3
• BMW X5
• Genesis Electrified GV70
• Genesis GV70
• Genesis GV80
• Infiniti QX60
• Lexus NX

Large SUVs:

• Rivian R1S
• Volvo EX90

Large pickups:

• Tesla Cybertruck

2026 Top Safety Pick

Small cars:

• Honda Civic hatchback
• Hyundai Elantra

Midsize cars:

• Honda Accord

Midsize luxury cars:

• Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Midsize SUVs:

• Buick Enclave
• Ford Explorer
• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Volkswagen Atlas
• Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Midsize luxury SUVs:

• Lincoln Nautilus
• Mercedes-Benz GLC
• Volvo XC90
• Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid

Large SUVs:

• Audi Q7
• Infiniti QX80
• Nissan Armada

Large pickups:

• Toyota Tundra crew cab

More information is available on the IIHS website.