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.
Midsize luxury SUVs
Top Safety Pick+
2022 Acura MDX 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021 Acura RDX 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Audi Q5 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Audi Q5 Sportback 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick
2022 BMW X5 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Cadillac XT6 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2022 Genesis GV70 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Genesis GV80 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021 Hyundai Nexo 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021 Lexus NX 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Lexus RX 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Lincoln Aviator 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Lincoln Nautilus 4-door SUV
with specific headlights
applies only to vehicles built after March 2021
Top Safety Pick
2021-22 Mercedes-Benz GLC 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Tesla Model Y 4-door SUV
applies only to vehicles built after April 2021
Top Safety Pick+
2021 Volvo XC60 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Volvo XC90 4-door SUV
Top Safety Pick+
2021-22 Volvo XC90 Recharge 4-door SUV
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