If you are like many of us and drive an SUV as an everyday vehicle, you want to be sure of a few things. Firstly, you want to make sure that it can get you around in comfort; secondly, that it is powerful enough to get you from A to B and lug things behind you, and thirdly, that if the worst were to happen, and you are involved in an accident, it will keep you safe.
Today, SUVs are one of the most popular segments on the market, and because they are now mass-market machines, a certain standard of safety has to be adhered to. Each year, the IIHS publishes a list of vehicles it deems to be the safest, and at the top of this list are its ‘Top Safety Pick’ and ‘Top Safety Pick+’ models, so we are taking a look at them. If you are looking for the safest SUVs in 2025, you’ll want to choose from one of these ten models.
2025 Honda HR-V
2025 Starting Price: $25,400
With a starting price of just over $25,000 and available in three trims, this year’s Honda HR-V is the ideal choice if you are looking for a budget option that punches above its weight in terms of versatility and safety tech. This year’s trims are the HR-V LX, the HR-V Sport, and the HR-V EX-L.
- 2025 Honda HR-V LX. MSRP: $25,400.
- 2025 Honda HR-V Sport. MSRP: $27,500.
- 2025 Honda HR-V EX-L. MSRP: $29,500.
There is a single engine option for all trims: a 2.0-liter NA inline-four that is good for 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. You can choose between front-wheel drive models and all-wheel drive models for a bit of extra grip in the wet.
While it is nowhere near as gutsy as a lot of other SUVs on the market, for the low starting prices and what you get in the way of standard equipment and relatively low fuel costs, with a maximum estimated combined mpg rating of 28 mpg (FWD models; 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway), which will cost you $1,650 a year on gas, the HR-V is a very wallet-savvy choice.
The 2025 HR-V is named a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ model by the IIHS, with ratings of ‘Good’ for all crashworthiness tests, ‘Acceptable’ for LATCH ease of use, headlights, and front crash prevention (vehicle to vehicle), while a rating of ‘Good’ has been given for front crash prevention (pedestrian).
For the low price, you do get a very comprehensive list of safety features, thanks to all models coming equipped with the Honda Sensing safety suite. This includes forward collision warning with auto braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation. On some of the higher trims, you can also choose to add blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, and low-speed braking.
2025 Mazda CX-50
2025 Starting Price: $31,995
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 is making all sorts of waves in the compact crossover market this year. It is small enough to drive comfortably in the city, with dimensions of 185.8 inches (L) x 75.6 inches (W) x 63.9 inches (H); it boasts a maximum cargo capacity of 56.3 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded away; for its price point, it is relatively premium in the cabin, and the IIHS has named it a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ model.
The standard engine you get this year is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four that ekes out 187 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, and offers an estimated combined mpg rating of 28 mpg. If you want a little more juice, a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four good for 256 horsepower is available on higher trims, while Mazda has also added a 219-horsepower 2.5-liter hybrid inline-four to the lineup, which gets you around up to 38 combined mpg at the expense of a bit of power.
All models come equipped as standard with all-wheel drive, and for its relatively low starting price, you do get a fair bit in the way of luxury SUV-ness in the cabin, courtesy of a 10.25-inch display, high-end materials for the interior inserts and seating, and a driver-centric layout.
There are four non-turbo trims: the 2.5 S, the 2.5 S Select, the 2.5 S Preferred, and the 2.5 S Premium Plus. Turbocharged trims include the 2.5 Turbo, the Turbo Meridian edition, the 2.5 Turbo Premium, and the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, while the hybrid models include the Hybrid Preferred, the Hybrid Premium, and the Hybrid Premium Plus.
While levels of luxury and features increase as you go up the grades, what doesn’t differ massively is the level of safety features. As standard, the 2025 CX-50 comes equipped with the Mazda i-Activsense safety suite, which includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. If you go for a higher trim, you also get traffic jam assist and an available 360-degree camera.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe
2025 Starting Price: $34,300
Alongside being named by the IIHS as a ‘Top Safety Pick+,’ this year’s three-row Santa Fe receives a four-out-of-5-star safety rating from the NHTSA. So, you can be fairly assured of you and your family’s safety inside one. Hyundai has kitted out all models of the new Santa Fe with the Hyundai SmartSense safety system, which is very comprehensive in what it gives you, with the following included as standard:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist.
- Lane Keeping Assist.
- Driver Attention Warning.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist.
- Safe Exit Assist.
Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Highway Driving Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance 2 (includes evasive steering assist), and a surround-view camera system can also be added to shore up safety features a little more.
The 2025 Santa Fe’s cabin is well-equipped with some decent tech and semi-luxury goodies in the shape of available 12.3-inch touchscreens and a digital instrument screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless charging, and a hands-free smart liftgate.
On the practical side of things, the Santa Fe is no heavy hauler, but it is more than capable of weekend trips and towing relatively fair-sized trailers behind you. With trailer brakes, the Santa Fe can tow up to 4,500 pounds and boasts a maximum cargo capacity of 79.6 cubic feet of space with both rear rows folded down.
2025 Buick Enclave
2025 Starting Price: $46,595
The 2025 Enclave may have newly dropped its V6, but it can be slightly forgiven thanks to the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four under the hood that is still more than capable of churning out respectable numbers while still offering decent towing capacity. The Enclave should still be seen as one of the go-tos on the market; it is more than just a relatively good-looking and luxurious full-size SUV.
The heaviest reported weight is the AWD Enclave, which weighs in at 4,537 pounds. Despite this, the AWD Enclave can still achieve an estimated combined mpg rating of 21 mpg (19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway). Overall, not too bad for something so heavy and large. There can be, unfortunately for purists, a lot of benefits to be had from turbo technology.
There are three grades of Enclave you can choose from this year. They include the Enclave Preferred (MSRP: $46,595), the Enclave Sport Touring (MSRP: $49,095), and the Enclave Avenir (MSRP: $59,695). The Preferred is well kitted out with a 30-inch display, synthetic leather upholstery, and a hands-free liftgate; the Sport Touring takes things in a more athletic-looking direction with a high-gloss black grille, black roof rails, and 20-inch alloys, while the Avenir is the most luxe, with quilted-leather upholstery up front, a Bose Performance 16-speaker rig, and massaging front seats.
“Buick is GM’s premium brand, and even the base Preferred trim level is pretty upscale. Leatherette seat upholstery comes standard in either Sandstone or Ebony, while the ST gets perforated Ebony seats with Cool Gray accents. This SUV starts to feel truly luxurious at the Avenir trim level, where quilted and perforated leather seats are available in Ebony or Cool Gray with flashy Slate Blue accents, including a blue leather steering wheel.”
Jared Rosenholtz’s review of the 2025 Buick Enclave – CarBuzz
The 2025 Buick Enclave has earned a IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick+’ model, and features standard safety tech in the shape of Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Emergency Braking, the available AWD system, and Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates to warn you of hazards.
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC Class
2025 Starting Price: $49,550
With a starting price of just shy of $50,000, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class SUV lineup is everything you’d expect from the German brand. Namely, you get a lot of tech features, decent power from the available engines, and a striking body build.
The base GLC 300 comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with a 48-volt hybrid system that kicks out 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque; the same configuration sits under the hood of the GLC 300 4MATIC, but you get full-time AWD, and the GLC 350e 4MATIC plug-in hybrid puts out 315 horsepower and an estimated all-electric driving range of up to 54 miles.
If you want more bang for your buck, there are also two AMG models to choose from: the AMG GLC 43 4MATIC and the AMG GLC 63 S E PERFORMANCE, which both boast 2.0-liter mills that can shift out 416 horsepower and 680 horsepower, respectively.
The GLC is built using ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum components; the safety cell is reinforced around the passenger compartments, and the crumple zones are designed to be very effective in a crash. So much so that the IIHS has awarded the GLC-Class SUV a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ rating.
All models come equipped with the typical Mercedes blend of luxury and athleticism (especially the AMG models), and in terms of safety features, you are well covered thanks to the inclusion of the Mercedes-Benz Driver Assistance Package. This package includes Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Forward Collision Warning.
2025 Genesis GV60
2025 Starting Price: $52,350
As one of Hyundai’s luxury arm’s most luxurious crossovers, the $52,000 Genesis GV60 offers a lot of modern tech, very impressive safety ratings, fast charging times (with some reports suggesting you can get a full charge in 8 hours on an 11 kW charger), and a choice of two motor configurations.
You can either opt for a single-motor (RWD) or a dual-motor (AWD) setup with horsepower outputs ranging from 225 horsepower to 483 horsepower (if you go for the ‘Performance,’ which offers Boost Mode). While electric SUVs may not be everyone’s favorite, there is an argument that suggests that EVs are safer in a crash than ICE vehicles.
Because the battery pack is mounted low between the axles of the GV60, it is very stable at speed (and in a crash); the structure utilizes hot-stamped and ultra-high strength steel for the center pillars and the front load paths, and reinforced panels are utilized to protect both the battery pack and you inside.
The IIHS has given the 2025 Genesis GV60 a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ award, and alongside its sturdy build, you benefit from standard features such as Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance, Driver Attention Warning, eight airbags (front-center, side, and curtain), and Forward Collision Avoidance.
2025 Lincoln Nautilus
2025 Starting Price: $53,940
As the smaller and cheaper cousin of Lincoln’s full-size luxury flagship SUV, the Lincoln Navigator, this year’s Nautilus brings a lot of luxuries, comfort, an IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick+’ award, and decent capability to the party in a more manageable size.
It is by no means a small SUV; it still measures in at 193.2 inches (L) x 85.4 inches (W) x 68.2 inches (H) and weighs in at 4,517 pounds. There is seating for up to five people inside, and while it may be smaller than the Navigator, it still offers enough legroom and storage capacity to make you think of looking smaller.
There are two engine options available this year: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four gas engine that is good for 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and allows you to tow up to 1,750 pounds, and a hybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four mated to a CVT that can shift out 310 horsepower and allows you to tow the same amount as the gas engine.
Despite the higher output and higher starting price of the hybrid flavor compared to the gas-engined Nautilus (it will cost you an extra $2,500 for the hybrid mill in the base trim), the payoff comes in fuel consumption. The gas-engine Nautilus can achieve an estimated combined mpg rating of 24 mpg, costing you $1,950 a year for gas, while the hybrid Nautilus boasts a respectable estimated combined mpg rating of 30 mpg, costing you $1,550 a year for gas.
2025 Nissan Armada
2025 Starting Price: $57,520
Available in five trims, boasting a bi-turbocharged V6 under the hood, oodles of cabin and safety features, and a rock-solid build, the 2025 Nissan Armada looks to be delivering across the board in terms of comfort, usability, power, and most importantly here, safety. Pricing for the 2025 Nissan is as follows:
- 2025 Nissan Armada SV. MSRP: $57,520.
- 2025 Nissan Armada SL. MSRP: $60,520.
- 2025 Nissan Armada Platinum. MSRP: $69,930
- 2025 Nissan Armada PRO-4X. MSRP: $73,740.
- 2025 Nissan Armada Platinum Reserve. MSRP: $76,990.
The base SV grade features a 3.5-liter bi-turbo V6 good for 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque under the hood; you get 18-inch alloys, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, and safety features in the shape of Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Departure Warning, and Blind Spot Monitoring.
The SL takes things up a notch with ProPILOT Assist 1.1, an HD Enhanced Intelligent Around View Monitor, Terrain Mode with five modes, 20-inch machined alloys, and a power liftgate, and the Platinum trim starts to take things in a luxury direction with a panoramic moonroof, infrared side-window glass, a motion-activated liftgate, and 22-inch machined alloys.
The Armada PRO-4X is the trim you should look at if you are looking to do some weekend off-roading. This trim is equipped with Intelligent 4WD with a two-speed transfer case, electronic locking rear differential, adaptive electronic air suspension, and a 3D Enhanced Intelligent Around View Monitor, while a rear LED light bar, LED fog lights, and 20-inch black-painted alloys top off the rugged and capable-looking design.
“This is the most off-road capable Armada ever, putting it more on par with the Nissan Patrol sold in other markets.”
Jared Rosenholtz’s Review of the 2025 Nissan Armada — CarBuzz
At the top of the pile sits the Amarda Platinum reserve. You get all the safety features of the other trims (namely, the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite), plus you get a lot more in the way of luxury driving, courtesy of 22-inch machined alloys, side mirrors with puddle lights, body-color running boards, a panoramic moonroof, a rear LED lightbar, biometric cooling, and a motion-activated tailgate.
All trim levels come equipped with the 3.5-liter V6, available with RWD as standard and 4WD optionally, and alongside all the luxuriousness and off-road capability that is available, an IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick+’ award.
2025 Audi Q7
2025 Starting Price: $61,795
Boasting an overall owner review rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Kelley Blue Book, a choice of five relatively powerful gas trims, a potent plug-in hybrid grade, an IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick+’ award, the Quattro AWD system featured as standard, and plenty of luxury and convenience features in the cabin to keep you comfortable, the 2025 Audi Q7 is one of the standout full-size luxury SUVs on the market this year.
The five main trims of the 2025 Audi Q7 are the 45 TSFI Premium, the 45 TSFI Premium Plus, the 55 TSFI Premium, the 55 TSFI Premium Plus, and the 55 TSFI Prestige. Prices top out at around $80,000 for the Prestige models, while two engine options are available for the gas-engine models.
The Q7 has been highly rated in crashworthiness tests, where it was awarded ratings of ‘Good’ for small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side, while the headlights and front crash prevention (pedestrian) system have been rated as ‘Acceptable’ to ‘Good.’
As standard, the 2025 Q7 comes equipped with a 360-degree surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, the Audi Pre-Sense system, and parking sensors. If you opt for the Prestige trim, you also get Intersection Assist, adaptive air suspension, Remote Park Assist Plus, and a HUD, which means you don’t have to look down at your instrument cluster to see how fast you are going.
2025 BMW X5
2025 Starting Price: $67,475
With starting prices just south of $67,500, this year’s BMW X5 continues to deliver in terms of available power, on-road grit, and an aggressive-looking exterior, but is certainly not the go-to choice for bargain hunters. Prices for the top trim start at a wallet-busting $128,000. If you have the budget for it, you do get a lot of luxury German SUV prowess for your money, and a lot of available power on tap.
The base X5 xDrive40i comes equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six that pushes out 335 horsepower; the plug-in hybrid X5 xDrive50e gets you the same inline-six, but it is mated to a hybrid system, which combined is good for 483 horsepower; the X5 M60i ups things with a 523-horsepower 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8, while the flagship X5 M Competition is the go-to for the performance-focused amongst us, with a 617-horsepower mild-hybrid bi-turbo V8 that cranks out rest-to-60 times of 3.7 seconds.
Regardless of what trim you go for, you are going to benefit from a plush cabin that is available with Vernasca leather seats, optional Merino leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, an available Harman Kardon audio rig, heated and ventilated front seats, and the BMW Curved Display that integrates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen, running the iDrive 8.5 infotainment system.
Across all trims, the X5 showcases the BMW Driving Assistance Professional Package, which kits it out with lots of safety features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, forward collision warning, traffic jam assistant, and active lane-keeping with side collision avoidance.