The 2026 Audi A6, BMW X1, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid have earned Top Safety Pick+ awards, the top tier in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest ratings round, which covered nine 2026 models in total. Five other newly tested models, including the Cadillac CT5 and Lexus IS, did not qualify for either award tier. The BMW X1 qualifies for the first time this round, while the Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid earn the distinction as a redesigned model and a new launch, respectively.
Highlights
- Four 2026 models — the Audi A6, BMW X1, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid — earned Top Safety Pick+, IIHS’s highest tier, in the group’s latest ratings round.
- The BMW X1 qualified after posting a good rating in the moderate overlap front crash test, an evaluation it had not previously completed.
- The Mazda CX-5’s 2025 predecessor scored poor in the vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test; the redesigned 2026 model scores good in the same evaluation.
- Five other newly tested models, including the Cadillac CT5 and Lexus IS, fell short of either award tier.
How the Awards Work
To earn Top Safety Pick, a vehicle needs good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front and side crash tests, acceptable- or good-rated headlights standard across every trim, and an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention test. The “plus” tier raises the bar: a good pedestrian rating is required, along with an acceptable or good result in IIHS’s updated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation, introduced last year. For either award, the qualifying front crash prevention systems must come standard rather than as an option.
IIHS updates its rated-model list on a rolling basis. A December batch of ratings added sixteen models to the 2025 award count, including the Tesla Cybertruck and Volvo EX90; this round adds four more 2026 winners to that tally.
What Changed for Each Winner
The Audi A6, redesigned for 2026, earns the “plus” tier with a good rating in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation, on top of good marks across all three structural crash tests.
IIHS tests the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid apart from the standard gas-only Crosstrek, since the hybrid’s structure and restraint systems differ enough to warrant separate evaluation. As a new launch, it earns the “plus” with a good vehicle-to-vehicle rating alongside good structural scores.
The BMW X1 qualifies for the first time on a good moderate overlap front rating — a test the model had not previously completed.
The Mazda CX-5, also redesigned for 2026, improves on two fronts where its 2025 predecessor fell short: that earlier model scored poor on the vehicle-to-vehicle evaluation and had not yet been rated in the current pedestrian test, which now weighs both daytime and nighttime results. The 2026 model scores good on both.
Full Results Across Nine Models
| Vehicle | Small Overlap Front | Moderate Overlap Front | Side | Headlights | Vehicle-to-Vehicle Prevention | Pedestrian Prevention | Seat Belt Reminder | LATCH Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A6 (TSP+) | Good | Good | Good | Good/Acceptable | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| BMW X1 (TSP+) | Good | Good | Good | Good | Acceptable | Good | Marginal | Good |
| Mazda CX-5 (TSP+) | Good | Good | Good | Good/Acceptable | Good | Good | Good | Good+ |
| Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (TSP+) | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good+ |
| Audi A3 | Good | Good | Marginal | Acceptable | Good | Good | Poor | Good |
| Cadillac CT5 | Not rated | Poor | Poor | Marginal/Poor | Poor | Acceptable | Marginal | Not rated |
| Lexus IS | Not rated | Marginal | Not rated | Good/Acceptable | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Nissan Kicks | Good | Marginal | Good | Good | Marginal | Good | Good | Good+ |
| Toyota Tacoma crew cab | Good | Marginal | Good | Acceptable | Good | Good | Good | Acceptable |
All front crash prevention systems shown are standard equipment. Headlight ratings showing two grades reflect variation across trim levels; small overlap front and moderate overlap front ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight class. Seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use aren’t part of either award’s criteria but are tracked separately — IIHS applies a similar belt-reminder protocol to its commercial vehicle evaluations, requiring a persistent audible and visual alert to count as effective.
Models That Missed the Cut
The Audi A3 sedan falls short on a marginal side crash rating and a seat belt reminder rated poor. The Cadillac CT5 posts poor ratings in the moderate overlap front, side and vehicle-to-vehicle prevention tests, and hasn’t yet undergone the small overlap front evaluation. The Lexus IS earns a marginal moderate overlap front rating and hasn’t been rated in the small overlap front or side tests. The Nissan Kicks, built before June 2026, and the Toyota Tacoma crew cab both post marginal moderate overlap front ratings that keep them out of either tier.
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