2021 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
2021 Kia Forte 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Kia Soul 4-door wagon
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Midsize cars
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Kia K5 4-door sedan
built after November 2020
Large cars
Top Safety Pick+
2022 Kia Stinger 4-door hatchback
Top Safety Pick
2021 Kia Stinger 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Small SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Kia Seltos 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights;
applies only to vehicles built after August 2020
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Kia Sportage 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Midsize SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Kia Sorento 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
Minivans
Top Safety Pick
2022 Kia Carnival minivan
built after March 2021 and with specific headlights
2021 criteria
Top Safety Pick +
- G Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests
- AdvancedSuperior Advanced or superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
- AGAcceptable or good headlights standard
Top Safety Pick
- G Good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests
- AdvancedSuperior Advanced or superior rating for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
- AGAcceptable or good headlights available