The safest luxury SUV in our current 2026 ranking is the 2026 Genesis GV80, scoring 98.6/100 with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. It leads 26 luxury SUVs with complete IIHS records; 7 more are still missing at least one test and are listed separately below.
All current luxury SUVs ranked by safety
Equal scores share a rank. The score is 55% primary IIHS tests, 25% selected occupant-protection details, 10% pedestrian front crash prevention, and 10% class context. Missing evidence never counts as passing.
| Rank | Vehicle | Class | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2026 Genesis GV80 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 98.6 |
| #1 | 2026 Lincoln Nautilus | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP | Good | 98.6 |
| #3 | 2026 Audi Q5 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 97.2 |
| #3 | 2026 Audi Q5 Sportback | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 97.2 |
| #3 | 2026 BMW X3 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 97.2 |
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| #6 | 2026 Volvo EX90 | Large luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 96.5 |
| #7 | 2027 Audi Q6 e-tron | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Acceptable | 96.1 |
| #7 | 2027 Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Acceptable | 96.1 |
| #7 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP | Acceptable | 96.1 |
| #7 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Good | 96.1 |
| #11 | 2026 Infiniti QX80 | Large luxury SUVs | TSP | Acceptable | 95.3 |
| #12 | 2026 Infiniti QX60 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 94.8 |
| #12 | 2026 Lexus NX | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Acceptable | 94.8 |
| #14 | 2026 BMW X5 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Acceptable | 94.7 |
| #14 | 2026 Genesis Electrified GV70 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 94.7 |
| #14 | 2026 Genesis GV70 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 94.7 |
| #17 | 2026 Rivian R1S | Large luxury SUVs | TSP+ | Good | 94.0 |
| #18 | 2026 Volvo XC90 | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP | Acceptable | 93.6 |
| #18 | 2026 Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid | Midsize luxury SUVs | TSP | Acceptable | 93.6 |
| #20 | 2026 Volvo XC60 | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Good | 90.6 |
| #21 | 2026 Cadillac Lyriq | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Acceptable | 90.0 |
| #22 | 2026 Audi Q7 | Large luxury SUVs | TSP | Acceptable | 85.3 |
| #23 | 2026 Acura MDX | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Marginal | 84.5 |
| #24 | 2026 Lexus RX | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Poor | 72.1 |
| #25 | 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Marginal | 70.7 |
| #25 | 2026 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron | Midsize luxury SUVs | β | Marginal | 70.7 |
Rear restraints is the IIHS rear-passenger restraints and dummy-kinematics result from the updated moderate-overlap test; it is the single detail that most often separates otherwise similar vehicles.
Safest luxury SUVs at every price
A vehicle appears here only if it is safer than every cheaper option, so each row is the best score available at that budget.
| Your budget | Safest choice | Score | Starting around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $49K | 2026 Lexus NX | 94.8 | ~$44,175 |
| $49Kβ$51K | 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC | 96.1 | ~$49,550 |
| $51Kβ$53K | 2026 BMW X3 | 97.2 | ~$51,300 |
| $53K+ | 2026 Lincoln Nautilus | 98.6 | ~$53,995 |
7 current luxury SUVs still waiting on complete IIHS results
These vehicles are listed so you can see what has been tested. A missing result is never treated as a pass or a fail, so they are not ranked.
| Vehicle | Primary tests reported | Detail results reported | IIHS award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Acura RDX | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 BMW X6 | 2/4 | 2/4 | β |
| 2026 Cadillac XT5 | 2/4 | 1/4 | β |
| 2026 Lexus NX Plug-in Hybrid | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Lexus TX | 1/4 | 2/4 | β |
| 2026 Lincoln Aviator | 3/4 | 4/4 | β |
| 2026 Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
What the class context means
Midsize luxury SUVs have the lowest standardized driver death rate of any class IIHS reports, roughly two-thirds below the all-vehicle average. That class context is worth 10% of the score; the other 90% is the published test evidence for each model.
Every vehicle on this page is scored with the same published formula as the main ranking. The full method, the exact weights, and the missing-evidence rules are on the methodology page.
Questions people ask
What is the safest luxury SUV in 2026?
The 2026 Genesis GV80 leads our current ranking of luxury suvs with a score of 98.6/100 from published IIHS tests and a Top Safety Pick+ award. 26 luxury suvs have complete records; ties share a rank.
Is a luxury SUV worth it for safety alone?
The safest-at-every-price tables on this site show that mainstream models often reach the same score for far less money. Luxury SUVs earn their top ranks with complete Good results in the updated tests and strong rear-seat protection, not because of the badge.
Do luxury brands have lower real-world death rates?
Historically, yes. Our brand safety page ranks manufacturers by sales-weighted driver death rates, and luxury brands lead it. Driver demographics and vehicle mass both contribute, so treat brand as context rather than a guarantee.
Keep comparing
Other rankings by type: Small SUVs Β· Midsize SUVs Β· Large SUVs Β· Sedans Β· Compact cars Β· Pickup trucks Β· Electric vehicles Β· Hybrids Β· Under $30,000 Β· Under $40,000 Β· Under $50,000 Β· Top Safety Pick winners Β· Teen drivers Β· Lowest-rated