The Safest New Cars for Older Drivers, by the Crash Tests

The short version

• Two tests, two answers. NHTSA's stars and the IIHS awards measure different crashes, so a car can score well on one and miss the other. The safest picks pass both.
• 22 current models do both: a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA and the IIHS's TOP SAFETY PICK+. They range from the Kia K4 and Mazda 3 to the Subaru Forester, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Palisade and Tesla Model Y.
• Five stars overall can hide four in front. 29 models with a 5-star overall rating get four stars in NHTSA's frontal crash test. The table shows each test separately.
• "Not rated" isn't a bad score. NHTSA hasn't published an overall rating for many 2026 models yet, including the Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback and Mazda CX-5. Several of those still carry an IIHS award.

Why crash ratings matter more with age

The body copes less well with a crash as it gets older. The IIHS and NHTSA both point out that older drivers and passengers are more likely to be seriously hurt in a crash of the same severity, often with chest injuries from the seat belt and airbag. That makes the frontal and side results worth reading on their own, not just the overall score.

The two ratings come from different places:

• NHTSA (the federal government) crashes each car head-on into a barrier, hits it from the side, and calculates how likely it is to roll over. Each result is out of five stars, and the overall rating combines them.
• The IIHS (an insurance-industry research group) runs its own, harder tests: small overlap crashes that catch only a corner of the car, an updated side test with a heavier barrier, a check on the rear-seat passenger, and headlight and crash-avoidance ratings. Its TOP SAFETY PICK+ is the higher award.

Every current model, best first

Within each group, cars with the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ come first, then TOP SAFETY PICK, then the rest, each ordered by NHTSA's overall and frontal stars. A star range means NHTSA rated versions differently (front- and all-wheel drive, say).

Beyond the crash test

Ratings tell you what happens in a crash. For day-to-day ease, check these on a test drive too:

• Getting in and out. A seat at hip height, like most small and midsize SUVs, is easier on the knees and back than a low sedan or a tall truck.
• Seat and wheel adjustment. A power seat with height adjustment and a telescoping wheel let you sit high enough to see and still keep a safe distance from the airbag. Our short-driver guide lists these trim by trim.
• Visibility. Sit in the driver's seat and look over each shoulder. Thick pillars and small rear windows are easy to miss in a showroom.
• Controls you can find. Physical buttons for the heat and the radio are easier to use without looking than menus on a touchscreen.