When searching for a new car, safety is a top priority for most buyers, even if it means paying extra for the chosen vehicle. With the latest advancements in safety technology, crash testing has become more rigorous and is now integrated into safety ratings. Although most new vehicles are safe, SUVs have become incredibly popular in the market. Therefore, in this article, we will explore some of the safest SUVs available in 2023.

Acura MDX
The 2023 Acura MDX is a beautiful and safe luxury midsize SUV that has earned high ratings from both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The IIHS has given it the Top Safety Pick+ rating and a Good+ rating for its extra child seat anchor points. The NHTSA has awarded it the highest five-star overall safety rating for luxury midsize SUV models that have front-wheel drive (FWD) configurations. Although the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models in the same segment did not receive a rollover resistance grade or an overall safety rating from the NHTSA, they achieved four stars in the front impact tests and five stars in the side impact evaluations. The Acura MDX comes equipped with many advanced safety features, including lane-keeping systems, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Additionally, if you opt for the Technology Package, you can enjoy rain-sensing automatic windshield wipers and parking sensors.

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander
It is one of the few compact SUVs with three seating rows. However, the passengers in the third row might not be the most comfortable. Mitsubishi Outlander ranks in the bottom half of its segments courtesy of its cramped cargo space at the back of its undersized third row and a mediocre powertrain. But the vehicle is still one of the safest SUVs and bags the perfect rating thanks to the high scores from IIHS. In addition, it comes engineered with a ton of safety tech. However, NHTSA has sadly not crash-tested this SUV presently. Some standard safety features you get in this vehicle are rear-seat alert, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse and forward automatic emergency braking, lane-change assist, rear-view camera, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, driver-attention monitoring, rear parking sensors, and pedestrian detection.

Honda HR-V
The sub-compact HR-V from Honda might not be the best in its driving enthusiasm, but it is undoubtedly one of the safest SUVs .  It bagged a Superior rating for crash mitigation and avoidance and a Good rating in every crash test. Hence, it was honored with the IIHS’s Top SafetyPick+ award. But the headlights in the vehicle receive a just about Acceptable rating. Each Honda HR-V has many active safety tech features, such as lane-departure warnings, emergency braking systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist.

Mazda CX-5
It is a lively compact SUV with solid acceleration and excellent handling. It bagged a Top Safety Pick award under the new standards. Mazda CX-5 has earned itself ‘Good’ scores in all the crash test categories. It also comprises the most recent side test. Vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention got an ‘Advanced’ rating, and the Headlights got an ‘Acceptable’ or ‘Good’ score, depending on their trim. Overall, the vehicle has a liberal line-up of safety features.

Some prevalent safety features engineered in the vehicle are rear cross-traffic alerts, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warnings, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alerts, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane keep assist. Further, Mazda CX-5 offers an option to upgrade your vehicle with a head-up display, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring, surround-view camera systems, and parking sensors.

2023 Subaru Ascent
Subaru, a famous Japanese carmaker, takes safety as one of its top priorities. It is well-proven from the fact that the brand has constantly won awards for reliability and safety. Ascent, the largest model in the Subaru fleet, is no exception. With superior fuel economy, a comfortable ride, and three-row seating, the Ascent brings more to the table beyond safety. IIHS also loves the Ascent and has lauded it with top rating in almost every safety test it undertook. It is unsurprising as the brand relies on its superior safety reputation to market and sell its cars. Though one of the safest SUVs, Ascent has faced criticism for its loud road noise and cramped third row. But there is no compromise on the safety front. Having said that, the Ascent is one of the best picks for someone who needs to shop for a mid-sized, safe SUV from a carmaker with a reputation for constantly offering safety to its customers.

2023 Volvo XC90
Volvo XC90 bags a high ranking amongst the other giants in the luxury midsized SUV class. It is known to amalgamate practical elements like competitive pricing and a large interior, with great style inside out. Though the vehicle may need more time at the service shop than many competitors, its avant-garde technology keeps it a league ahead.

Beyond the standard ADAS attributes, the Volvo XC90 also has electrified and turbocharged engines that guarantee superior fuel economy while delivering up to 400 hp. The Volvo XC90 earned the 2023 Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS thanks to its outstanding features such as excellent crash-test scores, the largest cargo area in its class (measuring 85.7 cu ft), availability of a plug-in hybrid option, and impressive fuel efficiency.

2023 Genesis GV60
The GV60, a new luxury midsize electric SUV category entrant, received outstanding safety ratings from U.S. News and IIHS. Reports from IIHS suggest that the vehicle bagged the highest score possible in all the IIHS crash tests. Hence, it earned itself the Top Safety Pick Plus award. Some standard features engineered in the vehicle are junction-turning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert.