IIHS 2026 crash test results: Cadillac CT5 safety rating and Top Safety Pick+ winners

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IIHS has released a fresh round of crash tests for nine 2026 model-year vehicles, and the story here isn’t about body size — it’s about the age of the underlying platform. Top Safety Pick+ went to the Audi A6, BMW X1, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid: all four aced the small and moderate overlap front tests, the side crash test and the collision-prevention checks.

Mazda CX-5 deserves a separate mention here: the brand keeps stacking up strong scores, and Consumer Reports had already named Mazda one of the leaders on overall safety. For buyers that’s a stronger argument than trim-level decoration — in the mass-market segment, the CX-5 competes not just on price and handling, but on consistent results from independent testing.

The biggest flop — Cadillac CT5. The sedan scored rare Poor ratings in both the moderate overlap front test and the side crash test. IIHS flagged a high risk of head and neck injury for the driver in the side impact, and a high injury risk for rear passengers in the frontal test. The model launched back in 2019, and against today’s tougher protocols, its age has turned into an engineering problem rather than just a styling question — a point already illustrated by an earlier IIHS comparison of an old and new Chevrolet Blazer showing 30 years of safety progress.

The Audi A3, Lexus IS, Nissan Kicks and Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab also missed the award: for most of them the moderate overlap front test was the weak spot, while for the Audi it was the side impact.

Safety now goes out of date faster than infotainment: a car can look modern and still fail a test that didn’t exist when it was engineered.