Here are the Safest Small Cars for 2026 – and They’re All Under $30K

digitalplatform.g@gmail.com 4 hours agoLast Updated: March 24, 2026

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Here are the Safest Small Cars for 2026 – and They’re All Under K

Four small cars have qualified for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2026 Top Safety Pick+ designation, the highest award from the insurance industry group. Three other small cars were also selected from this group’s Top Safety Pick, which is the second major award.

The awards come as SUVs make up 35 of 45 Top Safety Pick+ award winners this year, and 12 of 18 Top Safety Pick winners, the latest sign of the US auto market’s shift toward larger vehicles.

The IIHS said it would like to see automakers improve safety in all types of vehicles.

“This year, we’re asking automakers to make better protection for rear seat passengers,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “For TOP SAFETY PICK+, we need crash avoidance systems that are better at preventing pedestrian accidents and high-speed collisions with other vehicles.”

With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team took a look at the IIHS rankings and put together a list of the safest small cars.

1. Kia K4

MSRP: $22,290
IIHS Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+
What Kia said: SeungKyu Yoon, President and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, said in a press release that “safety is not one thing.

2. Mazda 3 Hatchback

MSRP: $25,550
IIHS Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+
What Mazda said: Jennifer Morrison, Director of Vehicle Safety Strategy at Mazda North American Operations, said in a press release, “We agree with the IIHS that safety should not be expensive. Our commitment is to ensure that enhanced protection is always available while still delivering the engaging driving experience Mazda is known for.”

3. Mazda 3 Sedan

MSRP: $24,550
IIHS Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+
What Mazda said: The company said in a press release, “Maintaining this level of performance comes not just from following trends or reacting to guidelines, but from Mazda’s ingrained Safety Philosophy, which prioritizes understanding real-world risks and designing vehicles that help reduce injuries before they happen.”

4. Nissan Sentra

MSRP: $21,590
IIHS Safety Rating: Top Safety Pick+
What Nissan said: Chris Reed, regional senior vice president, research and development, Nissan Americas said in a press release that “safety is at the heart of what we do and our teams work hard to build vehicles that work in the real world.”

5. Honda Civic Hatchback

MSRP: $27,000
IIHS Safety Rating: Select Maximum Safety
What Honda said: Honda said in a press release that the Civic and other Top Safety Pick winners are a symbol of the company’s “time-honored ‘Safety for Everyone’ approach, a commitment to improving the safety of everyone who shares the road.”

6. Hyundai Elantra

MSRP: $23,870
IIHS Safety Rating: Select Maximum Safety
What Hyundai said: Hyundai said in a press release, “This honor highlights Hyundai’s commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest level of safety in the automotive industry.”