Safety isn’t a feature—it’s a priority when buying a family car. Whether you’re running the kids to school, taking weekend road trips or just driving through city traffic, a vehicle that puts passenger protection first really makes a difference. The 2025 model year pleeeenty of three-row SUVs to choose from, but the latest ones raise the bar for crash protection, driver-assistance tech, and kid-friendly features. Utilizing scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, here are the safest family SUVs of 2025 that also perform well on our road tests.
Top Rated Three-Row SUVs
Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride remains the standard by which all other three-row SUVs for family safety are judged, now receiving both the coveted IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award and an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA. This indicates that it performed very well in the most stringent crash tests of 2025, which includes the difficult revised moderate overlap front test that focuses on rear-passenger protection—important to families with kids.
All Tellurides are equipped with full safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Now available for 2025: Highway Driving Assist 2 for even safer long distance driving. With its ability to seat eight people, its 87 cubic feet of cargo room, and a starting price slightly north of $37,805, the Telluride is just about a no-brainer when it comes to value.
| Safety Ratings | NHTSA 5-Star |
| Engine | 3.8L V6 |
| Horsepower | 291 hp |
| Seating Capacity | 8 passengers |
| Cargo Space | 87 cubic ft. |
| Starting Price | $37,805 |
Hyundai Palisade
Bring along the Hyundai Palisade, an outfit-style Telluride cousin that still keeps safety front and center. It received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and the 2025 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award. And underneath the Telluride’s hood is that same proven 3.8L V6 engine, delivering plenty of 291 horsepower power. It is space and comfort, inside and out, seating up to eight passengers and offering you as much as 86.4 cubic feet of cargo space when you need it. Whether you’re toting the kids or headed out on an adventure, the Palisade takes care of you with style and substance.
The Palisade begins around the $38,215 mark. It provides a little more front legroom — 44.1 inches — compared with the Telluride. Those two have the same platform and safety equipment. So choosing one is down to appearance and little extras.
| Safety Ratings | NHTSA 5-Star |
| Engine | 3.8L V6 |
| Horsepower | 291 hp |
| Seating Capacity | 8 passengers |
| Cargo Space | 86.4 cubic ft. |
| Starting Price | $38,215 |
Genesis GV80
For your rude health comfort needs without compromising safety for the little darlings, the Genesis GV80 delivers on both. It received a 5-star NHTSA overall rating and was named a 2025 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+.Genesis also offers a complex array of standard safety aids, including forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist and Highway Driving Assist, a system that blends adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology.
There is an optional third row, allowing for seven passengers, and the GV80 has a maximum cargo capacity of 84 cubic feet. The GV80 starts at about $58,200.While it is pricier in the premium segment, it is a beacon of luxury family motoring with best-in-class safety engineering.
| Safety Ratings | NHTSA 5-Star |
| Engine | 2.5L Turbo |
| Horsepower | 375 hp |
| Seating Capacity | 7 passengers |
| Cargo Space | 84 cubic ft. |
| Starting Price | $58,200 |
Mazda CX-90
The 2025 Mazda CX-90 is the mind blowing model which got 5-star overall rating from NHTSA. It received IIHS Safety Pick “Good,” score in its all six crash tests. The CX-90 did great in the new back-seat passenger crash check – its belts held the dummy’s head well away from the front seats.
The Mazda CX-90 and its plug-in hybrid variant (model CX-90 PHEV) boast an impressive list of safety features under the i-Activsense umbrella. There’s forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking to help prevent crashes, plus blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert for those hectic road moments. Lane departure warning with lane keep assist keeps you on track, and adaptive cruise control makes long drives so much more relaxing. Both cars earned top scores, so you can rest easy as you cruise in comfort and safety.
| Safety Ratings | 5-Star rating from NHTSA |
| Engine | Inline-6 Turbo |
| Horsepower | 280–323 hp |
| Seating Capacity | 8 passengers |
| Cargo Space | 84 cubic ft. |
| Starting Price | $40,445 |
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Conclusion
In 2025, families can choose best styled and high-end cars without thinking about safety because these top rated SUVs serve comfort, safety, and technology in the automotive market. Choose the one right for you among value-packed Kia Telluride, the elegant Hyundai Palisade, the luxurious Genesis GV80, or the fun Mazda CX-90, but each of these SUVs is a leader in modern safety technology.
If you are looking for a SUV to keep your family safe but don’t want to sacrifice amazing features then these four SUVs represent your best bet for safety on the road today.
