These Are the Safest and Cheapest 2022 Midsize SUVs, According to the IIHS
If you’re shopping for a new SUV but are also budget-conscious, it can be a delicate balance to find an SUV that is both safe and cost-effective. Sometimes it feels as though the safest SUVs are also those with the highest price tags. So what can you do? Check out these 2022 SUVs that get the highest ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – and are also the cheapest midsize SUVs.
To earn the IIHS‘ Top Safety Pick+ award, an SUV must 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 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is the cheapest and safest 2022 midsize SUV
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is the cheapest midsize SUV on the IIHS’ list of the Top Safety Pick+ winners. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe price starts at $27,400, though it can reach as high as $42,810. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with a 2.5-liter inline-4 that makes 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It gets a combined 26 mpg, with 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. It can also tow up to 2,000 pounds.
The 2022 Subaru Ascent is a great deal and one of the safest SUVs
The 2022 Subaru Ascent is the second cheapest midsize SUV on the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ list. The 2022 Subaru Ascent price starts at $32,295. It comes with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that gets up to 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the Ascent has compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2022 Nissan Murano is inexpensive and super safe
The 2022 Nissan Murano is also one of the cheapest and safest SUVs. The new Murano not only holds the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ award, it’s also just over $30,000. With a starting price of $33,210, the Murano also has 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 260 hp. It also has an 8-inch infotainment screen and comes with Nissan’s NissanConnect infotainment system as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The 2022 Hyundai Palisade is insanely popular
The 2022 Hyundai Palisade is one of the most popular midsize SUVs on the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ list. Its price starts at $33,600. The Palisade comes with a 3.8-liter V6 engine that makes 291-hp and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Palisade also has 18-inch wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen, and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, it has five USB ports.
The 2022 Ford Explorer is one of the cheapest SUVs on the list
The 2022 Ford Explorer is a super safe SUV with a starting price of $33,745. The base model Ford Explorer price starts at $36,345. It comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also has an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a six-speaker sound system.
If you’re in the market for one of the cheapest 2022 midsize SUVs – that also happen to be the safest – you can’t go wrong with any of these options. With the IIHS stamp of approval, these 2022 SUVs are certainly the safest way to go – and you’ll save some money as well.
