The 2026 Kia Sportage earned the prestigious IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating after receiving the highest possible “Good” scores in all major assessment categories, including the small overlap front, updated moderate overlap front, and updated side tests. It also met “Acceptable” or “Good” standards for pedestrian front crash prevention and comes with standard headlights rated “Acceptable” or “Good” across all trims. The Top Safety Pick+ designation is reserved for vehicles that meet the industry’s strictest safety benchmarks, and with IIHS introducing tougher 2025 standards emphasizing rear occupant protection, the Sportage’s achievement stands out. Kia’s ongoing investment in advanced collision avoidance technology, high-rigidity body structures, and optimized safety design continues to strengthen its safety leadership. Furthermore, to qualify for the Top Safety Pick (TSP) rating, vehicles must earn “Good” ratings in small overlap front and updated side tests, at least an “Acceptable” in the updated moderate overlap front, and similar “Acceptable” or “Good” results for pedestrian crash prevention and headlights—criteria the 2026 Sportage surpassed, achieving a full “Good” rating across all categories for models produced after May 2025.