All of the Safest Midsize SUVs for 2023, According to Experts
When it comes to safe SUVs, there are a few automakers that get it right all the time. The sport utility vehicles below from Ford, Mazda, and Lincoln were IIHS Top Safety Pick winners for this year. Check out what sort of systems and features helped these brand-new vehicles land on the list of safest midsize SUVs for 2023.
One of the safest midsize SUVs for 2023 is the Ford Explorer
When Consumer Reports listed some of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick winners for 2023, the Ford Explorer was one of two midsize SUVs. Ford made some significant improvements on the Explorer this year, still coming off a major redesign in 2020. The 2023 Ford Explorer handles well and has a quiet cabin. A third row of seats makes it suitable for larger groups.
Some of the standard safety systems on the Ford SUV include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot warning. It also received rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking. During IIHS testing, the 2023 Ford Explorer earned the highest score in all crashworthiness tests. It also received the highest “superior” score for front crash prevention.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn’t give the Explorer an overall safety rating, but it did give it five stars on the overall side crash tests.
The list of safest midsize SUVs includes the Mazda CX-9
Another three-row option, the 2023 Mazda CX-9, is known as the fun-to-drive family vehicle. It offers agile handling and a comfortable cabin for all passengers. Even though the CX-9 is a midsize SUV, drivers comment on its effortless driveability. As far as landing on the list of safest midsize SUVs, Mazda added plenty of standard safety features.
Forward collision warning, blind-spot warning, and automatic emergency braking are all standard on the 2023 Mazda CX-9. Mazda also included lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety made the 2023 CX-9 a Top Safety Pick winner this year. That means this midsize SUV earned high scores on all crashworthiness tests. On the crash avoidance and mitigation tests, the Mazda SUV earned the highest score of “superior.”
In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 CX-9 a five-star overall crash safety rating. The midsize SUV received high marks on tests like the side crash, side pole, and frontal crash segments.
For a luxury option, the Lincoln Nautilus received high safety scores
The 2023 Lincoln Nautilus landed on the list of safest midsize SUVs for 2023 for a few reasons. Lincoln knows a thing or two about building luxury vehicles, and the Nautilus offers a comfortable, well-appointed ride. During testing, the Nautilus had effortless acceleration and plenty of standard safety features to make the daily drive a little safer.
Lincoln’s standard safety systems include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot warning. The Nautilus also received lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. The 2023 Nautilus earned high scores on the performed tests like the front overlap, updated side, and roof strength tests.
Like the others on the list, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus a five-star overall safety rating. It received almost perfect five-star scores on all of the performed tests.
Since the IIHS updated its safety requirements for 2023, there are fewer award winners. The good news is that the list of vehicles to choose from is smaller, making decisions a bit easier. For now, these picks from Mazda, Ford, and Lincoln landed on the list of safest midsize SUVs.
