For years, big SUVs have carried a reputation for being tough but not always the safest machines on the road. You’d expect that by 2025, most full-size SUVs would shine in crash tests — but the reality is surprisingly different. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), only four large SUVs managed to earn the institute’s highest distinction for the 2025 model year: Top Safety Pick+.
And here’s the twist:
The Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Jeep Wagoneer — giants of the segment — didn’t make the list.
Instead, the honor goes to:
- Rivian R1S (all-electric)
- Nissan Armada
- Infiniti QX80
- Audi Q7
Notably missing is the Audi Q8, even though it shares the same platform as the Q7.
Before diving into what makes these four SUVs stand out, it’s worth recalling what the IIHS requires for its top-tier rating. To qualify as a Top Safety Pick+, a large SUV must earn Good scores in the small-overlap front, moderate-overlap front, and side-impact crash tests. It also needs Good or Acceptable ratings for headlights and pedestrian crash-prevention technology, including automatic emergency braking.
Other IIHS tests — such as vehicle-to-vehicle crash-avoidance, seat-belt reminder systems, and child-seat anchor usability — don’t currently influence the Top Safety Pick+ status, though that could evolve as the IIHS continues updating its protocols.
2025 Rivian R1S
Rivian’s updated R1S isn’t just quicker and more advanced — it’s also safer. For 2024, the R1S fell just short of the top grade due to a Marginal rating in the moderate-overlap crash test. But significant structural reinforcements for 2025 turned that into a Good result, pushing the SUV into Top Safety Pick+ territory. It’s worth noting that the award applies only to R1S units built after August 2024.
Beyond that, the electric SUV earned strong marks nearly across the board, including child-seat latch ease and seat-belt reminders. The only area where it didn’t ace the evaluation was its headlights, which received an Acceptable rating due to some low-beam glare and weaker visibility around curves. Rivian also equips the R1S with a comprehensive suite of standard safety tech: blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane keeping, and rear automatic braking.
2025 Nissan Armada
Freshly redesigned and infused with more of the Nissan Patrol DNA, the 2025 Armada finally measures up to its global reputation. It’s the only mainstream-brand SUV to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award this year, and it delivers nearly identical IIHS results to the Rivian — at a price almost $20,000 lower.
That includes Good ratings in all major crash tests and Acceptable headlights due to limited visibility in certain left-hand curves. The Armada also scored well in pedestrian crash-prevention systems.
Interestingly, the IIHS didn’t crash-test the 2025 Armada directly; instead, it used the results from its luxury sibling, the Infiniti QX80 — which shares the same platform and structure.
2025 Infiniti QX80
Sharing its underpinnings with the Armada, the Infiniti QX80 naturally earned the same crash-test scores. But there are meaningful differences. The QX80’s more premium headlights performed slightly better, achieving a Good rating compared to the Armada’s Acceptable score. Both models earned praise for their standard safety assists, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep support, and reverse automatic braking.
Under the hood, both SUVs use the same 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, though the Infiniti gets a bump to 450 horsepower, compared with the Armada’s 425 hp.
2025 Audi Q7
Audi’s three-row Q7 is the smallest of the group by a narrow margin, but it made a strong impression at the IIHS. It earned Good results in all major crash categories and for seat-belt reminders. However, its performance varied slightly across trims.
Only the Prestige trim delivered Good headlight performance overall, while the Premium and Premium Plus versions were rated Acceptable due to shorter right-side visibility on high beams. The Q7 also received an Acceptable grade in pedestrian crash-prevention tests — struggling to avoid hitting a child dummy at 12 mph and two adult dummies at night at 37 mph.
One noteworthy detail:
The Q7 was the only large SUV with a Top Safety Pick+ rating that underwent the IIHS vehicle-to-vehicle crash-prevention test. Though it doesn’t affect the award, the Q7 scored Poor in that category.
