Sedans Β· IIHS data updated 2026-09-16
Safest Sedans of 2026
Sedans are lighter than the SUVs that share the road with them, which makes the crash-test evidence matter more, not less. This ranking covers every current four-door sedan in the IIHS database with a complete record.
The safest sedan in our current 2026 ranking is the 2026 Audi A5, scoring 94.7/100 with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. It leads 21 sedans with complete IIHS records; 10 more are still missing at least one test and are listed separately below.
All current sedans ranked by safety
Where two vehicles score the same, the injury measures behind that score break the tie; vehicles matching on both 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. Where two vehicles score the same, the last column breaks the tie: it averages every injury measure IIHS published inside the three crash tests. Vehicles matching on both share a rank.
| Rank | Vehicle | Class | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Score | Injury measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2026 Audi A5 | Midsize luxury cars | TSP+ | 94.7 | 97.5 | |
| #2 | 2026 Hyundai Elantra | Small cars | TSP | 94.1 | 96.25 | |
| #3 | 2026 Audi A6 | Large luxury cars | TSP+ | 93.5 | 98.12 | |
| #4 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class | Midsize luxury cars | TSP | 93.3 | 97.5 | |
| #5 | 2026 Nissan Sentra | Small cars | TSP+ | 92.2 | 98.75 | |
| #6 | 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) | Small cars | TSP+ | 92.1 | 96.88 | |
| #7 | 2026 Hyundai Sonata | Midsize cars | TSP+ | 91.9 | 98.12 | |
| #8 | 2026 Tesla Model 3 | Midsize luxury cars | β | 91.7 | 96.25 | |
| #9 | 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron | Large cars | TSP+ | 91.2 | 98.75 | |
| #10 | 2026 Honda Accord | Midsize cars | TSP | 91.2 | 98.12 | |
| #11 | 2026 Toyota Camry | Midsize cars | TSP+ | 89.9 | 98.12 | |
| #12 | 2026 Mazda 3 (Sedan) | Small cars | TSP+ | 89.6 | 97.5 | |
| #13 | 2026 Genesis G80Award applies only to vehicles built after June 2025 | Large cars | TSP+ | 87.4 | 97.5 | |
| #14 | 2026 BMW 3 Series | Midsize luxury cars | β | 84.2 | 97.5 | |
| #15 | 2026 Honda Civic (Sedan) | Small cars | β | 80.0 | 95.0 | |
| #16 | 2026 Audi A3 | Midsize luxury cars | β | 79.7 | 91.25 | |
| #17 | 2026 Genesis G90 | Large cars | β | 78.3 | 95.62 | |
| #18 | 2026 Toyota Corolla (Sedan) | Small cars | β | 74.9 | 93.12 | |
| #19 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz E Class | Large cars | β | 68.8 | 95.0 | |
| #20 | 2026 Subaru WRX | Small cars | β | 68.1 | 91.25 | |
| #21 | 2026 Nissan Altima | Midsize cars | β | 41.6 | 81.25 | |
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.
10 current sedans 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 Alfa Romeo Giulia | 0/4 | 1/4 | β |
| 2027 BMW 5 Series | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 BMW i4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Cadillac CT5 | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Genesis G70 | 2/4 | 2/4 | β |
| 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 | 3/4 | 4/4 | β |
| 2026 Kia K5 | 3/4 | 4/4 | β |
| 2026 Lexus Is | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Toyota Crown | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Volkswagen Jetta | 2/4 | 3/4 | β |
Safest at every price
Safest sedans 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.
| Safest choice | Score | Starting around |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kia K4 (Sedan) | 92.1 | ~$22,290 |
| 2026 Nissan Sentra | 92.2 | ~$22,600 |
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra | 94.1 | ~$22,625 |
| 2026 Audi A5 | 94.7 | ~$50,200 |
What the class context means
Small cars have a standardized driver death rate well above the all-vehicle average; large and luxury cars sit below it. Because the class-context term is only 10% of the score, a small sedan with complete Good results can still outrank a larger car with weaker tests.
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 sedan in 2026?
The 2026 Audi A5 leads our current ranking of sedans with a score of 94.7/100 from published IIHS tests and a Top Safety Pick+ award. 21 sedans have complete records; ties share a rank.
Are sedans less safe than SUVs?
On average, drivers of small cars die at higher rates than drivers of SUVs, largely because of mass. A sedan with complete Good ratings in the updated IIHS tests still protects its occupants far better than an older or lower-rated SUV. Compare specific models, not body styles.
Which sedans earned Top Safety Pick+?
The award column in the table shows current award status for each model year. The award itself carries no weight; the tests behind it are 80% of the score and the pedestrian front crash prevention result it requires is scored directly at 10%.
Keep comparing
Other rankings by type: Small SUVs Β· Midsize SUVs Β· Large SUVs Β· Luxury SUVs 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