What Automakers Scored 2021 IIHS Top Safety Pick

In the school of automotive safety, only a select few make the grade. Each year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards the Top Safety Pick to an array of makes and models in the automotive industry. 

Last year, the IIHS toughened the crash test criteria to make it more challenging for new models to earn this victory. Enter: the Top Safety Pick+ award, which follows the same requirements of the TSP award while also taking into account quality headlights as a standard feature. 

As headlight enthusiasts, we can’t help but applaud this change. Maybe it will push more automakers to improve headlight safety overall. With that said, we know most automakers strive for IIHS top safety recognition. However, there are only a few heavy hitters that rack up the best safety each year.

Find out which automakers dominate the IIHS Top Safety Pick awards — and why car safety is already on track to becoming better than ever before. 

Check out the IIHS Top Safety Pick leaders

These car manufacturers dominated the IIHS Top Safety Pick awards this year. In addition, take a look at which 2021 models earned the best safety. 

Hyundai Motor Group

The Hyundai Motor Group brings a lot to the table, especially with Kia and Genesis falling under their domain. It’s no surprise that many of their popular SUVs landed as 2021 IIHS top safety picks. To name a few, the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Kia Telluride are all worth exploring. 

For sedan lovers, check out the ever popular, Kia K5. Beyond its safety, its headlight design is one to gush over.

Volvo 

Volvo cars are known for being the safest on the road. The dynamism between their handling and modern aesthetic, designate it as a brand that buyers adore. This year, the IIHS awarded all tested Volvo models with a TSP+ award. Let’s face it, you can’t get much better than that. 

Take a look at the Volvo XC60, awarded top safety and delivers on luxury exterior and interior finishes.

Mazda

The Japanese powerhouse had major success this year by having every model tested earn top safety picks. In addition, the models start at a fair MSRP, making it a great lease or buy option. The following Mazda sedans and SUVs won Top Safety Pick+ awards: 

• Mazda 3 4-door hatchback
• Mazda 3 4-door sedan
• Mazda 6 4-door sedan
• Mazda CX-3 4-door SUV
• Mazda CX-30 4-door SUV
• Mazda CX-5 4-door SUV
• Mazda CX-9 4-door SUV

Also, Mazda ranks as one of the lowest to repair.

A new era of safety — how the IIHS top safety picks help to inform consumers

The IIHS top safety picks are becoming more attainable with the level of safety that automakers have invested in. In 2021 thus far, a whooping 49 models received TSP+ awards and 41 earned Top Safety Pick. As a result, just under a hundred vehicles scored Good or Advanced safety for drivers. 

To puts things in perspective, only 64 vehicles received top safety in 2020. As you can see, safety is on the rise. This is the type of news every driver wants to hear.

The proof is in the crash results

In March, Tiger Woods endured a horrific crash, leaving many shocked by the aftermath of his Genesis GV80. While the SUV might have taken a beating, it’s hard to believe the outcome wasn’t worse. The fact that Woods survived that crash is a miracle in its own right. It just goes to show how important safety is to the manufacture of a vehicle.   

Woods’ protection from that terrible accident is what makes the Genesis GV80 and other IIHS Top safety picks so remarkable. The research and work that the IIHS nonprofit puts into car safety allows drivers to assess every vehicle on a deeper level, a safer level. 

For Woods, it’s clear the safety performance of his vehicle played a major role in his ability to recover today. Plus, if more automakers follow suit, IIHS top safety picks will continue to grow by numbers in years to come. 

Tiger Woods posts photo of himself using crutches weeks after horrific crash https://t.co/ZnOvpBarRw pic.twitter.com/M4YhZU2s9H

— New York Post (@nypost) April 23, 2021

To see the full lineup of the 2021 IIHS Top Safety Pick awards, click here.