Crash safety is usually framed around the people inside a vehicle, but the occupants of the other car matter just as much. IIHS death-rate data for 2020-23 models shows which SUVs pose the lowest risk to those other drivers. Here are twelve SUVs that posted standout results, from a BMW at the very top to a mainstream Volkswagen on the short list.
1. BMW X3 2WD: Lowest Rate of Any Model
IIHS death-rate figures put the BMW X3 2WD at the bottom of the entire table, with just 7 deaths among drivers of other vehicles per million registered vehicle years. No other model IIHS rated came in lower, and the rate comes from 2020-23 models.
For anyone weighing a midsize luxury SUV, that number is the headline safety credential for the X3. It describes the risk posed to people in other vehicles, which is a different question from how well the X3 protects its own occupants.
2. Volvo XC40 4WD: Small Crossover, Gentle Result
The Volvo XC40 4WD recorded an other-driver death rate of 8 in IIHS’s 2026 report, second-lowest among the models rated. Only the BMW X3 2WD posted a smaller figure, and the gap between them is a single death per million registered vehicle years.
That places a small luxury crossover, not a large one, near the top of the list. Shoppers who assumed a compact footprint would mean more risk to others have a counterexample here.
3. Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 4WD: Big Body, Small Toll
Size alone does not doom other drivers, and the GLS-Class 4WD shows it. IIHS tallied only nine other-driver deaths per million registered vehicle years for the Mercedes-Benz, despite its full-size bulk.
Full-size SUVs are usually assumed to be the worst offenders for people in other vehicles. This three-row model, with a rate of 9, sits just behind the X3 and XC40 in the rankings and well below what its mass might suggest.
4. BMW X7 4WD: Three-Row Luxury, Low Score
With an other-driver death rate of 11, the BMW X7 4WD ranks fourth-lowest of any model in the IIHS data. Only three models in the whole table recorded a smaller number.
Buyers who want three rows and a commanding seat position can point to this figure as evidence that big does not automatically mean dangerous to others. The X7 trails only the X3, XC40 and GLS-Class. The rate also reflects 4WD versions of the model only.
5. Mazda CX-30 4WD: Compact With a Modest Figure
The Mazda CX-30 4WD is the first non-luxury entry here, with 18 other-driver deaths per million registered vehicle years for 2020-23 models. That is higher than the luxury names above it but still a solid showing for a subcompact crossover.
Shoppers on a tighter budget get a useful reference point. A modest price tag did not translate into heavy risk for people in other vehicles, at least for these model years.
6. Acura MDX 4WD: Midsize Luxury at Twenty-Two
IIHS data gave the 2022-23 Acura MDX 4WD an other-driver death rate of 22. The three-row luxury crossover lands in the middle of this group, a clear step behind the BMW and Volvo leaders but still a respectable result.
Families comparing three-row luxury models can treat 22 as a baseline. The figure applies to the 2022-23 MDX specifically, so earlier or later model years may not match it. Shoppers should check which model year they are considering.
7. Jeep Cherokee 4WD: Cherokee Matches the MDX
A 22 appears again for the Jeep Cherokee 4WD, which logged 22 other-driver deaths per million registered vehicle years across 2021-23 models. That ties it with the Acura MDX despite coming from a very different kind of brand.
Mainstream compact SUVs can post numbers close to luxury three-row models, which makes this a useful comparison point for budget-minded shoppers. The score covers three model years, a broader sample than a single-year result, though it still reflects only 4WD versions.
8. Hyundai Palisade 4WD: Family Hauler, Mid-Twenties
The all-wheel-drive Hyundai Palisade scored an other-driver death rate of 25, the highest figure among the first eight entries in this gallery. It still earns a place among SUVs that are comparatively gentle on people in other vehicles.
For families shopping a large mainstream three-row model, 25 gives a number to compare against pricier rivals. The gap to the leaders is real, but the Palisade remains well inside the group worth considering.
9. BMW X5 4WD: Double Winner on the Safety List
IIHS named the BMW X5 4WD among six models with both the lowest driver and the lowest other-driver death rates. Few vehicles manage to protect their own occupants and the people in other cars at the same time.
That pairing is the strongest safety argument any SUV can make. The X5 shares the distinction with the X7, Cayenne, Atlas, XC60 and XC90, which makes the group unusually easy to shortlist.
10. Porsche Cayenne 4WD: Sports-Car Maker, Safe Result
The Porsche Cayenne 4WD is one of six models IIHS found with both the lowest driver and other-driver death rates. A sports-car brand built that record with a large SUV.
For buyers who care about performance but want a low risk to others, the Cayenne removes the usual trade-off. It sits beside two BMWs, two Volvos and the Volkswagen Atlas on the same short list, which is a selective group of only six vehicles.
11. Volkswagen Atlas 4WD: The Everyday Name Among Luxury
Luxury badges dominate the roster, yet the Volkswagen Atlas 4WD is the lone non-luxury model among the six with both the lowest driver and other-driver death rates. Every other name on the list wears a premium badge.
That makes the Atlas the obvious pick for a family that wants the group’s safety outcome without a premium price. Its inclusion also undercuts the notion that only expensive SUVs can score this well.
12. Volvo XC60 4WD: Second Volvo on the Short List
The Volvo XC60 4WD was listed by IIHS among the six models lowest on both driver and other-driver death rates. It joins the XC90, which also appears on that short list, giving the Swedish brand two spots.
For shoppers who rank safety first, the XC60 is the smaller of the two Volvos to qualify. Its place beside the X5, X7, Cayenne and Atlas shows how selective the list is. Both Volvos hold their places on merit, not by default.
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