I've tested some of the best-selling new family SUV models on the market in 2026 for USA TODAY Cars. Some family SUVs are more powerful, refined and technologically advanced than others, but what about safety?
If you're specifically searching for a family SUV with above-average safety scores, we've driven several of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's top safety picks of the year. Here are the three family SUVs I would recommend after driving them daily, taking them on road trips and loading them up with passengers and cargo.
The 2026 Mazda CX-70 offers above-average safety ratings
Mazda's CX-70 is a refined midsize SUV with excellent safety scores for front-crash prevention, seat belts and child restraints, and crashworthiness from the IIHS. It's luxury-adjacent despite having an affordable
starting price.
The 2026 Mazda CX-70 starts at $42,750. I enjoyed its acceleration and handling on the road during testing. Standard all-wheel drive gives the family SUV solid traction.
Mazda's midsize SUV comes standard with safety features like blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and a tire pressure monitoring system. I recommend the CX-70 because it's a family SUV that offers both style and safety, which can be a rare combination.
Kia's family SUV is modern, safe and value-oriented
The redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride is one of my favorite new vehicles of the year because it got bigger, bolder and better in practically every way for its second generation. Value and tech aren't its only strong suits. The Telluride is also one of the safest family SUVs, based on IIHS crash testing.
The 2027 Kia Telluride starts at $39,190. It includes safety features like automatic emergency braking technology, front and rear parking sensors and rear occupant alert with radar sensors. Aside from high safety scores and plenty of safety features, the Telluride also features a massive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display and a dual wireless phone charger.
I recommend the Telluride to drivers looking for their next family SUV because it's fun to drive, offers great standard features for the money and has a unique exterior design with plenty of cabin space.
The 2026 Honda Passport shouldn't be overlooked
Honda's midsize family SUV can be outshined in such a crowded segment due to popular models like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The 2026 Honda Passport has plenty to offer families, and its comfortable cabin really surprised me during testing.
I drove the Passport TrailSport for a week and enjoyed its many different driving profiles, seating materials and powerful V6 engine. The Passport is one of the few models that sticks with a six-cylinder instead of opting for a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The 2026 Honda Passport scored high for crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and seat belts and child restraints, making it one of the safest new family SUVs based on IIHS safety testing. It comes standard with safety features like a collision mitigation braking system, blind-spot information with lane-change assist, and a road departure mitigation system.
It starts at $44,950. I recommend the Passport because it has a spacious second row of seats, lots of cargo space and it's powerful enough to keep drivers engaged on the road.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect Reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at CSingh@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I tested family SUVs. These 3 are among the safest to buy
