The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recently announced the addition of four new vehicles to its prestigious 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ lists. For those who prioritize safety when choosing a vehicle, this update is certainly noteworthy.
Notable achievers include the Audi Q6 e-tron, Buick Enclave, and Nissan Armada, all of which have received the highest honor from the institute, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The GMC Acadia has also been recognized with a Top Safety Pick award. This recognition is especially significant for Buick and GMC, as both brands had not received IIHS awards for several years. In fact, this is the first time since 2013 that the Enclave has been acknowledged.
To earn these awards, vehicles must undergo a series of tests that simulate real-world crashes, including small overlap front impacts and updated side crashes. In order to qualify, vehicles must excel in key crashworthiness tests, demonstrate proficiency in pedestrian crash prevention, and feature headlights that do not cause glare for oncoming drivers. The Top Safety Pick+ award requires an additional “good” rating in the updated moderate front overlap test, which now includes rear-seat passenger protection.
Improvements to the Enclave and Acadia’s headlights, implemented after January 2025, played a significant role in their success. Unfortunately, not all models in this round of testing fared as well. The Cadillac Lyriq, Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, Kia K4, and several Nissan models such as the Kicks, Rogue, and Sentra, did not meet the criteria. Common issues included poor headlight performance or incomplete testing.
The IIHS emphasizes that evaluations are ongoing, and not all 2025 vehicles have been fully assessed. Updates later in the year could potentially improve a model’s safety rating. For a comprehensive list of safety awards, visit the IIHS website.
