5 SUVs With High Safety Ratings

All of these SUVs have excellent safety ratings, lots of features, and 7 seats.

Jill Ciminillo | 

Mar 26, 2025 | 3 min read

Hyundai

It can feel like there's an overwhelming number of three-row SUVs on the market today, and choosing between them might seem tough. If you're focused on finding a seven-seat SUV with good safety ratings and a reasonable price, here are five options that might help you narrow it down.

Each vehicle on this list not only holds up to seven people, it has also received high safety marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Ford

2025 Ford Explorer

Ford refreshed the Explorer for 2025, giving it a new front end, hands-free Ford BlueCruise tech on select trims, and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Maps and Google Assistant. Drivers can wirelessly connect to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, too.

This three-row SUV starts at about $41,000 and employs a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower, which sends torque to the rear wheels. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available, as is a 400-hp turbo V6 on select trims. The base model comes with two captain's seats in the second row, though shoppers can option a bench setup on most trims.

Honda

2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot, starting at around $42,000, uses a 285-hp V6 to drive either the front or all four wheels. The base model requires a cable for smartphone mirroring, but higher trim levels get wireless connectivity.

All but the rugged TrailSport model feature eight seats. If you're looking for a little more flexibility in the seating arrangement, choose one of the pricier trims: Owners of such models can remove the second row's center seat and stow it under the cargo floor.

Hyundai

2025 Hyundai Palisade

The Palisade offers the least expensive model on this list, starting at about $39,000. What's more, 2025 is expected to mark the last year of the current generation, so dealerships may be eager to unload these models later in the year after the redesigned model arrives.

For now, Hyundai equips this three-row SUV with a 291-hp V6 engine, front-wheel drive, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The lowest trim has eight seats, while all the rest get seven. AWD is an option throughout the lineup, and third-row seat heating is available.

Kia

2025 Kia EV9

The 2025 Kia EV9 offers this list's more expensive entry option — with a starting price of about $56,000 — but it's electric. In base rear-wheel-drive form with a 76.1-kilowatt-hour battery and a 215-hp powertrain, the model has an estimated range of 230 miles. You can up the power, battery capacity, and range with other trims, but know that doing so may reduce the seat count from seven to six.

Also, the entry-level model is packed with desirable features, including heated and ventilated front seats, a smart power liftgate, wireless smartphone mirroring, and a 12.3-inch infotainment display.

2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 stands apart from other three-row vehicles by offering gas-only and plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. The 280-hp unelectrified model starts at around $40,000, while the 323-hp PHEV starts at about $52,000.

In the base model, AWD is included along with up to eight seats, a 10.3-inch infotainment screen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The PHEV can go up to 26 miles on electric range, but if you don't intend to charge it regularly, you likely won't get much of a fuel-economy advantage, as both models see 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving on gas only.

Jill Ciminillo

Jill Ciminillo is a Chicago-based automotive writer, influencer, TikTok creator, YouTube personality, and podcast host, with articles and videos appearing in outlets throughout the U.S. Additionally, she co-hosts a weekly Car Stuff radio show via Talk Zone. Previously, Jill was the automotive editor for the Chicago Sun-Times News Group as well as Sinclair Broadcast Group. She is also a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association and has the distinction of being the first female president for that organization. Jill is currently a juror for the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) and Women's Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) awards.