Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90 Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Ratings for 2026

The Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90 are the only large SUVs to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ designation for 2026, according to the supplied report.

Both are fully electric, three-row luxury SUVs that met the institute’s requirements for crash protection, headlights and front crash prevention systems.

Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90 Lead the Large Electric SUV Safety Rankings

The IIHS evaluates vehicles using crash-test performance and several safety-related criteria, including headlight quality, pedestrian and vehicle front crash prevention, seatbelt reminders, child-seat anchor accessibility and whiplash protection. To earn the Top Safety Pick+ designation, vehicles must receive Good ratings in small and moderate overlap front crash tests and side tests, alongside qualifying ratings for standard headlights and front crash prevention systems.

According to Jalopnik, the 2026 Volvo EX90 is available with three powertrain configurations producing 329, 449 or 670 horsepower. Its maximum stated driving range is 305 miles for dual-motor versions, while the single-motor model offers 293 miles. The 2026 EX90 starts at $78,090, including the destination fee.

Volvo equips the EX90 with inflatable curtain airbags, front seats designed to help protect occupants during heavy landings and driver-assistance systems that use cameras, radars and ultrasonic sensors.

Rivian R1S Combines Three-Row Seating With Multiple Motor Options

The Rivian R1S also appears on the IIHS’s latest Top Safety Pick+ list for both the 2026 and 2027 model years. The three-row SUV seats up to seven people and received an update for the 2025 model year.

Its standard sensor package includes 10 high-resolution cameras and five radars, supporting 360-degree perception of the vehicle’s surroundings. Rivian’s optional Autonomy+ suite offers assisted-driving capabilities, including hands-free driving on roads with painted or dotted lane markings, according to the supplied report.

For 2027, the R1S is available with two, three or four electric motors. The configurations produce 665, 850 and 1,025 horsepower, respectively, with stated ranges of 410, 371 and 374 miles. The 2026 lineup also included a dual-motor version with a standard battery, 329 miles of range and 665 horsepower. The entry-level dual-motor 2026 R1S starts at $85,885, including the destination charge.

The two SUVs combine electric powertrains with three-row seating and have earned the IIHS’s top safety designation for the 2026 model year.

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