8 Crossover SUVs with the Best Safety Ratings

What’s the safest SUV you can buy? That question is not as easy to answer as you might think, since the concept of auto safety is made up of so many different criteria that are difficult to sort through. We’ve made it easier by collecting this list of the safest new crossovers and SUVs. We consulted ratings from the two organizations that test for automotive safety in the United States: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Every vehicle on this list received the highest rating from both organizations—NHTSA’s five-star overall crash-test rating as well as IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ award, which includes headlight performance and evaluation of the forward-collision-warning system. (Not every new vehicle has been tested by both agencies, so we will update this list as new ratings come in.) Because active-safety features and more powerful headlights often cost extra, the prices listed here also represent the least expensive way to equip each vehicle with the specific options or trim levels you’ll need to take advantage of the highest safety ratings.