If you are looking for maximum safety in a full-size SUV, the 2026 data reveals a massive shake-up.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently made its crash tests significantly harder, specifically targeting how well large vehicles protect passengers in the second row during side and moderate-overlap front impacts.
Because of these stricter rules, several traditional American heavyweights, like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition, failed to secure top honors this year, struggling to properly manage crash energy for rear-seat occupants.
Instead, the top of the safety charts is now split between next-generation electric vehicles and a newly redesigned class of gas-powered Japanese luxury haulers.
The Elite Tier: 2026 Top Safety Pick+ Winners
To earn the “Plus” designation in the large SUV category, a vehicle must flawlessly protect all three rows of passengers while deploying advanced standard crash-prevention systems that can detect pedestrians in the dark. Only two full-size SUVs managed this for 2026, and both are electric.
Rivian R1S
The fully electric R1S aced every structural test. Because EVs don’t have a massive engine block sitting under the hood, Rivian engineered a massive “frunk” that acts as a highly effective crumple zone, absorbing front-impact energy before it ever reaches the cabin.
Volvo EX90
Volvo’s newest all-electric flagship continues the brand’s legendary safety pedigree. It uses a state-of-the-art lidar sensor mounted on the roof line to “see” the road ahead in pitch black, giving its automatic emergency braking system industry-leading reaction times.
The Standard Top Safety Pick Winners
If you aren’t ready to make the jump to electric, three gas-powered titans managed to secure standard Top Safety Pick status. They performed exceptionally well structurally but missed the “+” designation due to slightly lower marks in pedestrian-detection scenarios.
Nissan Armada
After years on an aging platform, the entirely redesigned Armada finally secured top honors. It scored the highest “Good” rating in both the brutal small-overlap and side crash tests, a massive leap forward for Nissan’s biggest family hauler.
Infiniti QX80
The luxury sibling to the Armada, the QX80 shares its highly rigid chassis. It offers immense structural protection alongside standard luxury driver assists, like a highly refined surround-view camera system.
Audi Q7
While sometimes classified as a midsize-to-large crossover, the three-row Q7 remains a staple of German safety engineering, managing lateral (side) impacts incredibly well for a vehicle of its length.
The Wildcard: Jeep Wagoneer
The Jeep Wagoneer (and Grand Wagoneer) deserves an honorable mention. It was an IIHS Top Safety Pick in 2024 and currently holds a 4-out-of-5 star rating from the NHTSA.
While it hasn’t been retested yet under the grueling new 2026 IIHS criteria, it remains one of the safest traditional body-on-frame SUVs on the market, offering standard intersection-collision avoidance and an incredibly strong safety cage.
How the Big Names Compare
Here is a quick look at how the IIHS scored the biggest names in the segment on the crucial Moderate Overlap Front test (which now heavily weighs how well the second-row passengers are protected).
| Full-Size SUV | Powertrain | IIHS Award Level | Rear-Passenger Protection (Frontal Crash) |
| Rivian R1S | Electric | Top Safety Pick+ | Good (Highest) |
| Volvo EX90 | Electric | Top Safety Pick+ | Good (Highest) |
| Nissan Armada | Gas | Top Safety Pick | Good (Highest) |
| Toyota Sequoia | Hybrid | No Award | Marginal |
| Ford Expedition | Gas | No Award | Marginal |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | Gas | No Award | Poor (Lowest) |
Drive with Confidence in Your SUV
Owning one of the safest SUVs on the road provides valuable peace of mind, but even the most advanced vehicle can’t prevent flat tires, dead batteries, mechanical failures, or unexpected roadside emergencies.
Whether you’re commuting, taking a family road trip, or exploring new destinations, DriveSafe Solutions is ready to help with affordable roadside assistance, emergency towing, mobile mechanic services, tire repair services, wrecker services, and winch out services available 24/7 across the United States.
Save our toll-free number, +1 (866) 890-7355, before your next journey so expert help is always within reach. From lockouts and jump starts to accident recovery and roadside breakdowns, DriveSafe Solutions delivers fast, dependable service that gets you back on the road safely and with minimal disruption. Wherever your travels take you, you can count on our experienced team to be there when you need us most.
