2018 Top Safety Picks
Vehicles that perform best in our evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
Small cars
Top Safety Pick
2019 Toyota Corolla 4-door hatchback
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Corolla 4-door sedan
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Prius 4-door hatchback
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Prius Prime 4-door hatchback
Midsize cars
Top Safety Pick+
2018 Toyota Camry 4-door sedan
with specific headlights
Large cars
Top Safety Pick+
2019 Toyota Avalon 4-door sedan
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Avalon 4-door sedan
with specific headlights
Small SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota RAV4 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
Midsize SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2018 Toyota Highlander 4-door SUV
2018 criteria
To qualify for 2018 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. It also must earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and a good headlight rating.
To qualify for 2018 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also must earn an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and an acceptable or good headlight rating.
Vehicles with optional front crash prevention qualify for either award only when equipped with the technology.