The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded only the 2027 Kia Telluride and 2026-27 Tesla Model Y the “Top Safety Pick+” designation among the seven new vehicles tested. Both models earned the required ratings in crash, headlight performance and front crash prevention tests.
2027 Kia Telluride models produced after June qualified for the award, while those from earlier production runs were excluded because of their “marginal” headlight performance. Models that did not receive the award included the 2026 BMW i4, GMC Canyon, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS and Toyota Crown Signia.
Why it matters
The results show that vehicles offered under the same model name can receive different safety ratings depending on their production period. This distinction means that those considering the Telluride should look not only at the model year, but also at when the vehicle was produced and what headlight equipment it has. IIHS’s assessment of crash results together with headlight performance and front crash prevention capability shows that the award is not based on a single safety factor. By contrast, because it was not specified in which tests or to what extent the five models that did not receive the award fell short, the results do not, on their own, explain these vehicles’ overall safety levels. Therefore, the list should be read less as a definitive safety ranking than as an assessment distinguishing the models that meet all of the specified conditions.