Four 2026 Honda Models Earn Top Safety Ratings from IIHS, Including the Brand's Most Affordable Models

News released March 24, 2026, in Torrance, California by Honda Canada News

Honda continues to double down on safety, and the latest IIHS ratings prove it.

Four 2026 Honda models have earned top recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the brand's most affordable vehicles. The Honda Passport and HR-V received the highest possible rating, TOP SAFETY PICK+, while the Civic Hatchback and Accord earned TOP SAFETY PICK awards.

Affordable Cars, Top-Tier Safety

What makes this stand out isn't just the awards, it's which vehicles are winning them.

The Civic, Accord, and HR-V are among the more accessible options in Honda's lineup, yet they're achieving some of the highest safety scores in the industry. In fact, their average price sits below what many buyers are paying for used vehicles today.

That's not normal in this market, and it reinforces Honda's long-term focus on making safety standard, not optional.

Built to Handle Tougher Testing

All four models performed exceptionally well in IIHS testing, earning top GOOD ratings in:

• Small overlap front crash test
• Updated moderate overlap front crash test
• Updated side crash test (now significantly more demanding)

These updated tests are no joke. The new side impact test alone delivers 82% more crash energy than before, making it a much tougher benchmark.

What's Driving These Results

Every new Honda comes equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety and driver-assist features that includes:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with pedestrian detection
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning and Road Departure Mitigation
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Adaptive Cruise Control

Honda has already rolled this technology out across more than 10 million vehicles in North America since 2014.

Beyond that, these models also benefit from Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, designed to better absorb and distribute crash energy. Add in features like advanced airbags and seatbelt systems, and you've got a well-rounded safety package.

More Than Just IIHS

Safety performance doesn't stop there.

Every Honda model that has been evaluated under the latest U.S. government (NHTSA) testing has earned a 5-star overall safety rating, adding another layer of credibility to these results.

2026 IIHS Award Winners

Honda's Bigger Goal

Honda isn't just chasing awards. The company is working toward a long-term goal of zero traffic fatalities involving Honda vehicles by 2050.

That means going beyond vehicle design and focusing on driver awareness, behavior, and overall road safety systems. It's a broader approach that looks at the entire driving environment, not just the car.

About Honda Canada

Honda Canada Inc., established in 1969, oversees both Honda and Acura vehicle brands in Canada. Since 1986, the company has built over 11 million vehicles at its manufacturing facility in Alliston, Ontario, where the Civic and CR-V are currently produced.

With more than $6.5 billion invested in Canada and a network of over 280 dealerships nationwide, Honda remains one of the country's most established automotive brands.

Important Notice: 

This article contains information from a Honda news release issued March 13, 2026. Details were accurate at the time of publication but may change without notice. Vehicle specifications, features, and availability may vary. Please refer to official Honda sources for the most current information.

Source: This is the official source from Honda Canada News for the announcement released March 13, 2026, in Torrance, California.