America loves the Honda CR-V. The small Honda SUV was the sixth best-selling vehicle in the United States in 2024 and a consistent favorite. However, the CR-V fell short of a handful of its rivals in safety evaluations. As a result, safety-minded car buyers might want to consider one of these five competitors for the top safety scores from the IIHS. 

The 2025 Honda CR-V’s lack of a ‘+’ from the IIHS for 2024 and 2025 models puts it behind five small SUVs

The 2025 Honda CR-V earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). While that sounds like a fairly definitive safety score, the agency has one higher score, the Top Safety Pick+. And for 2025 model year SUVs, other small SUVs secured the “+” ahead of the CR-V, including one of its siblings.

For starters, the smaller, more affordable Honda HR-V earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. However, the HR-V isn’t alone among the cheaper, higher-scoring options with a TSP+. Two Hyundai SUVs have TSP+ ratings for the 2024 and 2025 model years. What’s more, the Hyundai Kona and Tucson are cheaper than the Honda CR-V at $25,745 and $29,750, respectively. 

The 2025 Mazda CX-50, a close albeit slightly pricier competitor for the perennially popular CR-V, also received a TSP+. Finally, the AWD Subaru Forester took home the top rating from the IIHS. However, the TSP+ only applies to Foresters outside of the Wilderness trim. The IIHS says the Forester Wilderness is still built on the 2024 platform, and doesn’t qualify for the same rating. 

As for the Honda CR-V, the small SUV’s performance in the updated moderate overlap front crash test earned it a “Poor” rating in the category. Specifically, IIHS evaluations revealed a “moderate risk of injury to the chest” and lap belt movement that could increase the risk of abdominal injuries.