The Safest Family SUVs | What IIHS Crash Tests Mean For Families

Big news for the Carpoolers — the IIHS just released their 2026 large SUV safety results, and there is a lot to unpack. This year's report is more expansive than ever, covering nine large SUVs, and the results are genuinely surprising. Two vehicles earned the top honor of Top Safety Pick+, and you might not guess which ones — hint: they're both electric.

I'm Kelly, the Car Mom. I'm a CPST, mom of four, and this is exactly the kind of data I live for. Let's break down what the 2026 IIHS results mean for families shopping for a large SUV.

What Is IIHS Testing?

The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) is an independent organization dedicated to evaluating vehicle safety. They conduct rigorous crash tests and assess safety features to determine how well vehicles protect passengers in real-world crashes.

I want to be clear about something important: every car sold in the U.S. is government crash-tested and certified as road-safe. What the IIHS does is go further — they identify gaps and push manufacturers to do better. Their ratings help families make more informed choices, especially when it comes to protecting the people in the back seat.

If you want a full explainer on how IIHS testing works, read my post: IIHS Top Safety Picks: Which Family Cars Made The List.

2026 IIHS Large SUV Results: Overview

This year, the IIHS tested nine large SUVs — a significant expansion from the three vehicles tested in 2024. Here's where everything landed:

2026 Top Safety Pick+

• Rivian R1S
• Volvo EX90

2026 Top Safety Pick

• Audi Q7
• Infiniti QX80
• Nissan Armada

No Award

• Audi Q8
• Toyota Sequoia
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• Ford Expedition

The headline story here is that the two Top Safety Pick+ winners are both fully electric vehicles. That's not a coincidence — electric vehicles are increasingly setting the standard for structural safety and crash avoidance technology. It's a trend worth paying attention to.

Also notable: the Jeep Wagoneer, which earned a Top Safety Pick in the 2024 results, does not appear in this year's ratings. I'll be watching for updated results on that one.

Why The IIHS Is Testing SUVS

The IIHS is now testing full-size SUVs because the demand is here! Full-size SUVs have slowly been gaining popularity over the last decade and I knew the time would come when the IIHS would eventually notice. I’m thrilled that we are now able to see how these family haulers perform since so many of us use them in our everyday lives.

I want to make it clear - manufacturers HAVE to crash test all their cars to be legally sold in the U.S. Every car on the market is government crash test certified to be safe enough on the road. From there, the IIHS takes it a step further and provides consumer ratings to test where they see gaps. 

2026 IIHS Breakdown By Vehicle

Rivian R1S — 2026 Top Safety Pick+

The R1S is the standout performer this year, earning the highest honor. It scored Good across nearly every category, with Acceptable ratings for headlights and front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle. For a large electric SUV, this is an impressive result — and a signal that Rivian is taking safety seriously from the ground up.

Volvo EX90 — 2026 Top Safety Pick+

No surprise here — Volvo has built its reputation on safety for decades, and the EX90 delivers. It earned Good ratings across the board with an Acceptable on headlights and LATCH ease of use. The EX90 is one of the most safety-focused large SUVs on the market, full stop.

Audi Q7 — 2026 Top Safety Pick

The Q7 earns a Top Safety Pick with mostly Good ratings, but there's a red flag: it received a Poor rating for front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle with its standard system. That's a meaningful gap, and something families should be aware of. The optional system performs better (rated Acceptable), so trim selection matters here.

Infiniti QX80 — 2026 Top Safety Pick

The QX80 earns a Top Safety Pick, though front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle was not tested. Its front crash prevention pedestrian systems (both standard and optional) rated Good, and it earned Good ratings in the structural crash tests. The LATCH ease of use was not rated, which is worth noting for car seat families.

Nissan Armada — 2026 Top Safety Pick

The Armada earns a Top Safety Pick with Good structural ratings and Good pedestrian crash prevention on both standard and optional systems. Headlights were Acceptable. The LATCH ease of use earned a G+, which is great news for families installing car seats. Front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle was not tested.

Audi Q8 — No Award

The Q8 missed the mark primarily due to a Marginal rating on moderate overlap front and a Poor rating for front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle with the standard system. Like the Q7, the optional system improves to Acceptable — but families should factor that in when choosing a trim.

Toyota Sequoia — No Award

The Sequoia scores Good on the small overlap front test but earns Marginal on moderate overlap front — a concerning result. It also received a Marginal rating for front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle and a Poor for headlights alongside a Poor for the side test. For a vehicle many families rely on, there's meaningful room for improvement here.

Chevrolet Tahoe — No Award

The Tahoe continues to struggle in IIHS testing. It earned an Acceptable on small overlap driver side but a Poor on the passenger side — a result that has carried over from 2024. Front crash prevention (both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian) and headlights were not tested, which limits the full picture. The LATCH ease of use earned a G+.

The Tahoe remains a popular, capable family vehicle, but these results reinforce that there are real gaps in passenger-side protection and crash avoidance that Chevy needs to address.

Ford Expedition — No Award

The Expedition, which I personally drive, earns Marginal ratings for both small overlap front driver and passenger sides — the same structural concern flagged in 2024. Front crash prevention (vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian) was not tested. Seatbelt reminders earned Good, and LATCH ease of use was not rated.

Am I getting rid of my Expedition? No. But I'd love to see Ford address the structural issues in a future update.

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Kelly's Hot Take

The 2026 results tell a clear story: electric vehicles are leading the way on large SUV safety, and traditional gas-powered full-size SUVs — especially the most popular family haulers — still have significant work to do.

What gives me hope is that this is exactly why the IIHS does this testing. Every year the bar gets raised, and manufacturers respond. We've seen it happen with midsize SUVs, and I'm confident we'll see meaningful improvements in full-size vehicles over the next few years as a result of this pressure.

If you're currently driving a Tahoe, Expedition, or Sequoia — take a breath. These vehicles are legally certified as road-safe. Focus on what you can control: everyone buckled, kids properly secured in the right car seat for their age and size. That's always going to be your biggest safety factor.

"Kelly, which large SUV should I buy based on these results?"

Here's my honest take:

If safety ratings are your top priority and budget allows, the Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90 are the clear leaders. Both earned Top Safety Pick+ and bring impressive technology to the table.

If you want a traditional large SUV with strong safety results, the Infiniti QX80 and Nissan Armada are worth serious consideration — both earned Top Safety Pick and have solid family features. I've reviewed the QX80 here, and it's a genuinely impressive vehicle.

If you're set on a Tahoe or Expedition — don't panic. Understand where the gaps are (passenger-side front protection and crash avoidance tech), and make sure you're pairing it with good driving habits and proper restraint use for every passenger.

For a full breakdown of how each vehicle performed category by category, view the IIHS findings directly here.

As always — you know your family best. You're doing the research, asking the right questions, and making the most informed decision you can. That already makes you a great parent.