If you’re shopping for a large SUV, there’s a decent chance you’re shopping for your family. After all, one of the best parts of the largest SUVs on the road is their versatility and ability to fit a whole bunch of kids and their sports equipment. If that’s the case, then safety is likely a priority. Luckily for you, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has done all the safety research and crash testing for you. These are the safest large 2022 SUVs you can buy right now.

The safest large 2022 SUVs meet the IIHS’ strict criteria

The IIHS gives out two awards to the safest vehicles it tests. One is the Top Safety Pick, and the Top Safety Pick+. To earn a Top Safety Pick+ title, a vehicle has to have:

• Good ratings in:
  • Driver-side small overlap front test
  • Passenger-side small overlap front test
  • Moderate overlap front test
  • Original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests
• Advanced or Superior for available front crash prevention for both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
• Acceptable or good headlights standard on all trim levels

The IIHS is a non-profit that tests vehicles and shares the results of their tests with consumers so that people can make informed decisions about what they buy. By issuing safety ratings and awards, consumers are more aware of potential issues with their vehicles, and car manufacturers have more accountability. The IIHS’ tests have evolved to keep pushing safety standards higher, which is a huge bonus for everyone.

Although a vehicle winning the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award is a definite positive when you’re car shopping, not all vehicles with these awards are equal. The IIHS says, “These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn’t earn the award.”

The 2022 Audi e-tron is one of the safest SUVs on the market

The 2022 Audi e-tron gets all good ratings on the IIHS crash tests. That’s not an easy thing to do, as evidenced by the fact that only two large SUVs managed to get ratings high enough across the board for the Top Safety Pick+ award. That means that the Audi e-tron didn’t get a single acceptable, marginal, or poor rating. Not only that, but even the e-tron’s minor categories all have good ratings.

Some of the tests that the e-tron was rated on include small and moderate overlap tests, as well as side crash tests. In addition, the IIHS tests the roof strength, head restraints, and seats.

The 2022 Audi e-tron also has a superior rating for its available safety systems. Both the vehicle-to-vehicle and the vehicle-to-pedestrian systems receive these superior scores. And of the two available headlights on the e-tron, one scored a good rating, the other scored an acceptable rating. This is the e-tron’s only less-than-perfect rating.

The 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback has superior safety systems

The 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback is the other IIHS favorite. Like its Audi sibling, the Sportback has perfect crash test ratings. Every category as well as subcategory scores a good rating. In addition, its available safety systems both score superior ratings out of superior, advanced, and basic. Also similar to the 2022 Audi e-tron, the e-tron Sportback has one available headlight system with a good rating, and the other with an acceptable rating. Even the child seat anchors LATCH ease of use rating is good, making these two Audi SUVs very nearly perfect. 

If you’re looking for the safest 2022 SUVs, both the 2022 Audi e-tron and the 2022 Audi e-tron Sportback are excellent choices. With their Top Safety Pick+ awards, both Audi SUVs combine style and safety in a stylish and functional package.