SUVs With the Best Safety Ratings

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for your next new car – price, features, style – but one of the most important factors for many San Francisco drivers is safety. When you’re choosing a new SUV, you want to ensure that you, your passengers, and your cargo remain safe and secure wherever the road may take you. Cartelligent is here to help you find the SUV with the best safety rating that works for both your Orange County lifestyle and your budget. Read our list of SUVs with the best safety ratings for the 2024 model year below to find a model that sparks your interest.

Finding the Best SUV Safety Rating Criteria

In compiling this list, the experts at Cartelligent chose to use one of the most respected institutions for safety: the IIHS. The IIHS, or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is an independent, nonprofit educational and scientific organization committed to evaluating vehicles for consumer safety. Every year, they release safety ratings for vehicles based on rigorous standards, awarding the safest vehicles their Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards. 

For this list, Cartelligent has chosen the 2024 Top Safety Pick+ award winners, which are graded on their performance in crash tests, safety systems, and functioning safety equipment.

Small SUVs

Small SUVs, sometimes called compact SUVs, often have a smaller overall footprint than standard SUVs and typically seat up to five passengers. The small SUVs on this list have been awarded the 2024 Top Safety Pick+ award, and some, like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 have won multiple years in a row, making them great choices for San Jose drivers:

  • 2024 Honda HR-V
  • 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5
  • 2024 Hyundai Kona
  • 2024 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2024 Mazda CX-30 (under $30,000)

Midsize SUVs

Midsize SUVs are a step up from the small SUV category, with seating for five to seven and more expansive cargo space available. These SUVs often come with more features and capability than their small SUV counterparts, ready for both a night in Los Angeles and a mountain trail adventure. Some of these models, like the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and Mazda CX-90, are multiple-year award winners, giving you peace of mind for the road ahead:

  • 2024 Ford Explorer
  • 2025 Honda Pilot
  • 2024 Kia Telluride
  • 2024 Mazda CX-90 & CX-90 PHEV
  • 2024 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2024 Subaru Ascent

Midsize Luxury SUVs

If you’re a Walnut Creek driver who prefers more premium features and overall luxury, then a midsize luxury SUV may be right for you. Nearly all the models on this list are multi-year winners, making any of these models a great choice for a more refined, safe driving experience:

  • 2024 Acura MDX 
  • 2024 BMW X3
  • 2025 BMW X5
  • 2024 Lexus NX
  • 2024 Lincoln Nautilus
  • 2024 Mercedes Benz GLE

Find Your Next SUV With Cartelligent!

Have you found the SUV with the best safety rating that works for you? Then get started with an advisor at Cartelligent today and put yourself on the path to the vehicle with the best SUV safety rating for you! For more information about how Cartelligent can simplify your car-buying experience, read our FAQs and see how easy buying your next SUV can be.

Stay Connected with Cartelligent

From start to finish, leave the puzzle to us and forget all of that pressure and stress. Just get the expert advice that actually helps you drive off in your new ride.

Blog

Explore Our Latest Insights

Stay updated with our recent blog posts.

2024 BMW 3 Series

Approaching the end of your car lease in California? You have clear choices: considering a lease buyout to purchase your...

Woman charging EV at a public charging station

Your Essential Guide to EV Charging At Cartelligent, we’ve seen firsthand the surging interest in electric vehicles. Many of our...

Driving Smarter Recent changes in automotive tariffs mean that many imported vehicles and even those with a high percentage of...

Stay Connected with Cartelligent

Here are some common questions about our blog topics and their answers.

By submitting your information, you acknowledge and agree that your use of our website and services is governed by these linked terms of use and privacy policy.

FAQs

You’ve got questions. We’ve got real answers.

What is this blog?

This blog provides insights and information on various topics relevant to our audience. We aim to educate and inspire our readers through well-researched content. Each post is designed to address common questions and offer valuable solutions.

We update our blog regularly to ensure fresh and relevant content. New posts are typically published weekly, but we also add timely articles as needed. Stay tuned for the latest updates!

Absolutely! We welcome guest contributions from knowledgeable individuals. If you have expertise in a relevant area, please reach out to us with your ideas.

You can share our blog posts on social media platforms or via email. We encourage readers to spread the knowledge and insights found here. Sharing helps us reach a wider audience!

You can contact us through our website’s contact form. We are here to answer any questions you may have. Your feedback is always appreciated!

Still have questions?

We’re here to help!