The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has a new and more stringent set of criteria for its 2025 “Top Safety Pick” and “Top Safety Pick+” awards, particularly for rear-seat occupant protection and headlights. As a result, many previously top-rated vehicles have lost their top safety pick standing.
The IIHS uses four grades: Good (G), Acceptable (A), Marginal (M), and Poor (P). After running crash tests, they determine these grades in the following areas of the vehicles: small-overlap front, moderate-overlap front, side impact, headlights, front crash prevention (pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicle), seat belts, and LATCH ease of use. Each area that IIHS looks at might be nitpicky to some, but for consumers, these can be dealbreakers when making an expensive purchasing choice. Here is a list of 10 cars and SUVs that have failed to earn more than a good rating from the IIHS for the 2025 model year.
For a complete breakdown of these ratings, visit the IIHS website.
2025 Kia K5
Poor: Moderate Overlap
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.5L Four-Cylinder
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
191 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
181 lb-ft
- Fuel Economy
-
27/37 MPG
- Make
-
Kia
- Model
-
K5
- Segment
-
Compact Sedan
Kia’s midsize sedan, the K5, received several ratings that were less than good, with the sedan receiving a poor rating for the moderate overlap area. In crash tests, this area crumpled and would make front-end collisions more likely to result in injury. The K5 received a marginal rating in side collision, and an acceptable rating in seat belts and latch. IIHS did not test the K5 for headlights or crash prevention.
The 2024 K5 model received a good rating on moderate overlap. Perhaps with the exterior refresh that Kia did for the K5 in the 2025 model year, this impacted the results negatively. On a positive note for the 2025 K5, Kia updated its Drive Wise suite and its blind-spot monitoring system.
2025 Honda CR-V
Poor: Moderate Overlap
- Base Trim Engine
-
1.5L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
190 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
179 lb.-ft. @ 1700 RPM
- Fuel Economy
-
28/34 MPG
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
28/34/30 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Honda
The CR-V has been Honda’s best-selling SUV for quite some time. This small SUV received several good ratings in the areas of small overlap front, side, headlights, and seat belts. That’s something to brag about for the CR-V. However, it received a poor rating in moderate overlap front and only acceptable ratings in front crash prevention (pedestrian and vehicle).
The 2025 ratings for the Honda CR-V are nearly identical to the ones from 2024. That’s likely due to the fact that very little has changed from the two model years.
2025 Volkswagen Taos
Poor: Front Crash Prevention
- Base Trim Engine
-
1.5L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
174 HP @5500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
184 lb.-ft. @ 1750 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
28/36/31 MPG
- Make
-
Volkswagen
- Model
-
Taos
- Segment
-
Subcompact SUV
The Volkswagen Taos only got one good rating, and it was in latch. Otherwise, they were acceptable in small overlap front and side, and marginal in moderate overlap and front pedestrian crash prevention. They received a poor rating in front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle and seat belts.
The front-end ratings are down in the 2025 model year when compared to last year, when the Taos received a new front end. There were no updates to the ADAS system of the 2025 Volkswagen Taos.
2025 Ford Bronco Sport
Marginal: Moderate Overlap
- Base Trim Engine
-
EcoBoost 1.5L ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Four-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
181 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
190 lb.-ft. @ 3000 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
25/29/26 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Ford
- Model
-
Bronco Sport
Similar to its larger sibling, the Bronco Sport also performed poorly in the updated moderate overlap front test, with the rear passenger dummy’s lap belt sliding up onto its abdomen, which increases the risk of internal injuries.
Ford did see an improvement in the seat belt from the previous model year, when the IIHS rated them poor on seat belts. This year, the Bronco Sport received a marginal rating in that category. Improvement from year to year is what you want to see.
2025 Ram 1500
Marginal: Headlights
- Base Trim Engine
-
3.6L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
305 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
269 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
- Fuel Economy
-
17/24-20/25 MPG
- Make
-
Ram
- Model
-
1500
- Segment
-
Full-Size Pickup Truck
This is the first entry in the big truck segment. This is the most profitable segment in the auto industry, so it’s of the utmost importance. However, only two trucks in this segment received the IIHS full top rating: Toyota Tundra and Rivian R1T. While the Ram 1500 is a sturdy truck, it failed to earn a top award due to a poor “marginal” rating for its headlights. In the IIHS’s tough new standards, vehicles must have good or acceptable headlights across all trim levels to qualify.
From 2024 to 2025, the Ram did see a little bump up in the ratings from IIHS with an improvement in its crash avoidance systems. Every model year, it seems automakers focus on improvements to their ADAS systems.
2025 Honda Odyssey
Poor: Moderate Overlap
- Base Trim Engine
-
3.5L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
10-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
280 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
262 lb-ft
- Make
-
Honda
- Model
-
Odyssey
- Segment
-
Minivan
When you see a poor rating, you think this sounds bad. And obviously, Honda would prefer this rating to be better, but IIHS changed its testing somewhat, and in doing so, none of the minivans did well. As such, not a single minivan received a top rating from IIHS, with the Odyssey having the only poor rating. The minivan also received acceptable ratings in headlights and crash avoidance.
The 2025 Odyssey actually has improvement over its 2024 ratings, which saw a poor rating in seat belts as well, and this is an area in which Honda improved greatly on the 2025 model.
2025 Nissan Kicks
Poor: Moderate Overlap
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.0-liter four-cylinder
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
141 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
140 lb-ft
- Make
-
Nissan
- Model
-
Kicks
- 0-60 MPH
-
9.0 Seconds
- Segment
-
Subcompact SUV
The Nissan Kicks received a “poor” rating in the updated moderate overlap front test, which specifically measures the safety of the rear passenger. This rating disqualified it from any of the top awards.
The 2025 version suffers a bit from a major overhaul that includes a completely new exterior and features a larger body. All of this changes the dynamics, the IIHS hit points, and surely led to the downturn in the rating for this model year.
2025 Audi Q8
Poor: Vehicle-To-Vehicle Crash Prevention
- Base Trim Engine
-
3.0L Turbo V6 Mild Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
335 HP @5700 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
369 lb.-ft. @ 2800 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
17/23/19 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Audi
- Model
-
Q8
Ironically, the slightly smaller Audi Q7 received the IIHS’ highest honors, so it’s curious how the Q8 had a few issues. In addition to the poor rating for front crash prevention (vehicle-to-vehicle), the Q8 also got a marginal rating on the moderate front overlap.
For the 2024 model year, Q8 received an acceptable rating in both of these areas, so the slight downturn is curious, as there was very little change from 2024 to 2025.
2025 Cadillac XT6
Poor: Moderate Overlap And Side Impact
- Base Trim Engine
-
2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
9-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
235 HP @5000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
21/27/23 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Cadillac
- Model
-
XT6
The midsize luxury SUV segment had 13 IIHS award winners. So it’s a segment that seems like many entries are safety-focused. Yet the 2025 Cadillac XT6 received not one, but two poor performance ratings from IIHS. In the moderate overlap area and side collision, the XT6 received the lowest rating possible. In fact, only in the small overlap did the XT6 receive the top rating of good. Every other tested category was either acceptable or marginal.
All of this may not matter as Cadillac is replacing the XT6 in its lineup with the all-electric Vistiq. Production of the 2025 XT6 is wrapping up at its Spring Hill Assembly plant toward the end of the year.
2025 Toyota Tacoma
Marginal: Moderate Overlap And Side Impact
- Base Trim Engine
-
I-FORCE 2.4L ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Four-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
228 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
243 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
19/24/21 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Toyota
- Model
-
Tacoma
In the smallest segment that IIHS tests, not a single small pickup truck received top honors. Each entry had something that disqualified it. For the Toyota Tacoma, it was the marginal rating on moderate overlap testing. The Tacoma also received acceptable ratings in both headlights and latch, but otherwise, the truck was rated good in all other categories.
The 2024 ratings were nearly identical for the top-selling Tacoma. The Tacoma is the sales leader in this segment that has grown over the last couple of years.