IIHS 2026 Awards: Full Analysis

What Changed in 2026?

IIHS updated three key criteria for the 2026 award season, each designed to push automakers further:

•       Rear seat protection: A 'Good' rating in the updated moderate overlap front test is now required for both award tiers — previously only required for Top Safety Pick+

•       Pedestrian crash avoidance: A 'Good' rating is now required for Top Safety Pick+ (previously 'Acceptable' was sufficient)

•       Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention 2.0: An entirely new evaluation testing AEB performance at 31, 37 and 43 mph against a passenger car, motorcycle, and semitrailer — now required for Top Safety Pick+

•       Standard availability: All qualifying crash avoidance systems must be standard across every trim for either award in 2026

Source: IIHS 2026 updated award criteria — iihs.org/ratings/about-our-tests

2026 Award Criteria Comparison

Award Winners Relevant to the Saudi Market

Of the 63 vehicles earning IIHS awards in 2026, the following models are available or closely related to vehicles sold by AlRomaih Cars in Saudi Arabia:

IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ 2026

IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK 2026

Saudi prices are approximate market estimates. TSP+ = Top Safety Pick Plus. TSP = Top Safety Pick.

Source: Complete winners list at iihs.org/news/detail/iihs-pushes-improvements-in-crash-avoidance-with-2026-awards

Key Stories from IIHS 2026

Hyundai and Kia Dominate the Awards

The Korean brands collect more IIHS 2026 awards than any other manufacturer. Hyundai earns Top Safety Pick+ for the Sonata, Tucson, Kona, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, and Santa Fe. Kia wins TSP+ for the Sportage, K4, Sorento, and EV9. This dominance reflects a decade of deliberate Korean investment in structural engineering and crash avoidance systems — and it explains why Hyundai and Kia consistently rank among Saudi Arabia's best-selling brands. Browse Hyundai and Kia models at AlRomaih Cars.

Toyota Camry: Top Safety Pick+ Again

The Camry earns Top Safety Pick+ for 2026, maintaining its status as both Saudi Arabia's best-selling sedan and one of its safest. The tougher 2026 rear-seat protection requirement — now mandating a 'Good' rating that was previously only required for the higher award tier — did not prevent the Camry from qualifying. For Saudi buyers already considering the Camry on value and reliability grounds, this IIHS result adds a compelling safety dimension.

Safety Under SAR 110,000 Is Now Real

IIHS President David Harkey specifically noted that more than a dozen Top Safety Pick+ winners start below $30,000 — with the Kia K4 starting at just $22,290 in the US market. In the Saudi context, this means the Kia K4 GL 2026 and Hyundai Elantra Smart 2026 bring world-class crash safety performance to buyers in the economy and lower mid-range segments.

Minivans Fail Again — A Warning for Families

IIHS made an unusually direct statement about minivans in the 2026 announcement: no minivan earned an award this year, and rear-seat performance in the moderate overlap test remains the persistent challenge. Harkey specifically noted that parents may want to consider safer sedans and SUVs instead. For Saudi families choosing between a minivan and a 7-seat SUV, this finding is worth weighing carefully.

The New V2V 2.0 Test: Why It Matters in Saudi Arabia

The new Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention test evaluates whether a car's automatic emergency braking system can detect and respond to three different target types: another passenger car, a motorcycle, and a large semitrailer. This is directly relevant to Saudi road conditions, where highways regularly feature heavy trucks and motorcycles alongside passenger cars. Over 77% of 2026 models tested so far meet the acceptable or good threshold — a fast improvement from 2025.

Direct quote: 'Improving crash avoidance is key to achieving our 30x30 vision of reducing U.S. crash deaths by 30% by 2030.' — David Harkey, IIHS President

How to Use IIHS Ratings When Buying a Car in Saudi Arabia

IIHS tests vehicles to North American specifications. Saudi-market vehicles may have slight differences in standard equipment. However, the structural engineering and core safety technology in these vehicles is identical globally. A Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry sold in Saudi Arabia uses the same TNGA or Hyundai platform that earned the IIHS award.

•       Check whether the model you are considering has earned an IIHS award in its latest model year

•       Prioritise vehicles with standard automatic emergency braking — not optional AEB

•       For families, the moderate overlap front test result for rear-seat protection is the most relevant data point — specifically the 2026 criterion requiring 'Good'

•       Compare headlight ratings: poor headlights are a leading cause of night-time accidents, and IIHS now requires at least 'Acceptable' rated headlights for either award

Award-Winning Models Available at AlRomaih Cars

•       Safest midsize sedans: Hyundai Sonata Smart 2026 | Toyota Camry E-Plus 2026 | Honda Accord EX 2025

•       Safest small SUVs: Hyundai Creta 2026 | Kia Sportage GLS 2024 | Hyundai Tucson 2025 | Honda HR-V V DX 2026

•       Safest economy sedans: Hyundai Elantra Smart 2026 | Kia K4 GL 2026 | Hyundai Accent Smart 2026

Find Your Safest Car at AlRomaih Cars

IIHS's 2026 awards confirm that the safest cars in the world are also among the most accessible — and many of them are available today at AlRomaih Cars across Saudi Arabia. Whether you are a family prioritising rear-seat protection, a daily commuter wanting standard automatic emergency braking, or a professional seeking a mid-size sedan that tops both the sales charts and the safety rankings, the answer is in our showroom.

Browse all vehicles: All Cars | Compare prices | Financing | Contact us.

Related: Top Safety Features When Buying an SUV | Most Sold Cars Saudi Arabia 2025 | Hyundai Cars Saudi Arabia 2026 Guide.