The Safest New Cars of 2023, According to IIHS

As the IIHS tests vehicles throughout the year, more cars may be added to the list. According to Young, some models—including the Chrysler Pacifica and Cadillac CT6—haven’t yet completed all the tests necessary for a 2023 award. Either one or both of these vehicles could end up on the list later this year. “Depending on how it performs, it may still earn an award,” he says.

More models will likely earn Top Safety Pick+ status as the IIHS continues to raise the bar for the award, says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s auto test center. “Car manufacturers respond to tougher tests by designing new vehicles that can pass those tests,” she says. Manufacturers have been aware of the new side crash test since 2018, and models designed specifically with that test in mind are only now hitting the market.

Consumer Reports uses IIHS ratings as part of the safety component for our Overall Score, which also factors in road-test performance, reliability, and owner satisfaction.

Young says that shoppers who are interested in a vehicle that doesn’t appear on the list should first check out where it underperforms. In the case of headlights, buyers may be able to choose a higher trim level or optional feature that has better performance. If a vehicle comes up short in multiple categories, he says, “consider other options within the same class that provide a higher level of crashworthiness and crash avoidance performance.”

Below, you will find the full list of new cars, SUVs, and trucks that earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award for the 2023 model year. Consumer Reports also indicates whether a vehicle has been awarded a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ on CR’s car model pages.