If you assumed every small SUV on a dealer lot would protect you the same way in a crash, new testing says otherwise. The Nissan Kicks just earned the industry’s top safety award under a tougher crash test — while an Audi and a Chevrolet model, tested the same way, landed among the worst scores IIHS gives out.
What IIHS actually tested
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ran its updated, stricter moderate overlap front crash test against a group of small SUVs and sedans, according to the IIHS press release dated October 19. The updated test is harder to pass than the version it replaces, which is exactly why the results split as sharply as they did.
The one model that earned a Top Safety Pick
The 2026 Nissan Kicks, for vehicles built after June 2026, rated “Good” under the new test — the top available score — and that result alone earned it a TOP SAFETY PICK award. The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta also rated “Good” on the same test, though it didn’t collect the same award designation.
Which vehicles passed, and which barely did
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 came in a notch lower, rated “Acceptable” — a real pass, but not the strongest showing among the group. Its plug-in hybrid version did worse: the 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid rated “Marginal,” meaning the same vehicle nameplate performed differently once a heavier hybrid battery and drivetrain changed how it behaves in a crash.
The two vehicles that failed outright
The 2026 Audi Q3 and the 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer both rated “Poor” — the lowest score IIHS gives, and neither qualified for any award under the new test standard.
Two vehicles with established, recognizable brand names behind them rated at the bottom of the same test a much less expensive compact SUV passed cleanly. Brand reputation and crash-test performance aren’t the same thing, and this round of testing is a direct example of why.
Why a “Poor” rating doesn’t mean a car is unsafe to drive today
A “Poor” score under IIHS’s updated test means a vehicle performed worse than its peers under this specific, tougher scenario — not that it fails every safety standard or shouldn’t be on the road. These are relative rankings, built to show how models compare to each other under identical conditions, not a verdict that a car is dangerous outright.
What it does mean: if crash protection in a moderate overlap front collision — one of the most common real-world crash types — is something you’re weighing heavily, the Q3 and Trailblazer gave up real ground to competitors in this round of testing.
What this means if you’re shopping for one of these models
If you’re cross-shopping small SUVs, IIHS’s own ratings page lets you look up any model by name and see exactly how it scored, test by test, rather than relying on a brand’s general reputation for safety. That’s a five-minute check before you sign anything, not a research project.
A result like this one is also a reminder that a previous model year’s rating doesn’t automatically carry over — IIHS updates its tests periodically specifically because manufacturers improve designs to meet whatever the current standard is, and a vehicle that scored well under an older test can score differently once the bar moves.
The bottom line
One small SUV earned the industry’s top safety honor under a newly toughened test, and two others — including a model from a brand often associated with engineering and safety — scored at the bottom of the same test. If you’re in the market, that’s worth five minutes with IIHS’s own lookup tool before the sticker price becomes the only thing deciding it.