The midsize SUV segment offers dozens of great options for families, but we'd argue the most important criteria to look for is safety. The best way to evaluate a vehicle's safety is to look for top ratings from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration), plus advanced standard and available safety tech to protect you and your most precious cargo. U.S. News and World Report ranked the safest midsize SUVs of 2019 and we selected 5 that offer the top safety ratings and tech features, along with an affordable base price of under $35,000.
1. 2019 Kia Sorento
Newly refreshed for 2019, the Kia Sorento is an excellent choice for large families and drivers that need more cargo space than a compact SUV offers. The Sorento has a comfortable cabin where the front row occupants will enjoy good adjustability, cushioning, and bolstering. The driver can also take comfort in knowing they are chauffeuring their family around in one of the safest midsize SUVs on the market. The Sorento scored a Top Safety Pick+ rating, with "good" ratings in every category except for "acceptable" in child seat LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA awarded the Sorento a 5-star rating.
In addition to the top safety ratings, the 2019 Kia Sorento offers plenty of standard safety features like parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive cruise control. Lane Keep Assist is new for 2019, and available Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning give you additional confidence whether you're shuttling the kids to school or heading out on a cross-country road trip.
2019 Kia Sorento starting MSRP: $26,290
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2. 2019 Subaru Ascent
Subaru's newest addition to the lineup is also their largest vehicle. Not only is the midsize 2019 Subaru Ascent the best Subie crossover when it comes to the driving experience, but it's also exceptionally safe. All 7 or 8 passengers (depending on the model you go with) will enjoy the high-quality materials of the cabin and supportive seats, but the third row is best for kids due to the limited headroom. No matter the row, all passengers will be protected in the event of an accident. The 2019 Ascent earned a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a 5/5 rating from the NHTSA.
Standard safety features in the Ascent include Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology with offers Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure, and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, and new EyeSight Assist Monitor (EAM) which provides a heads-up display of the EyeSight system warnings.
2019 Subaru Ascent starting MSRP: $31,995
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3. 2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Another newcomer on the midsize SUV scene is the Volkswagen Atlas, and it has hit the ground running as one of the best on the market. The 7-passenger 2019 Atlas offers a roomy interior with a third row that can comfortably fit adults, solid driving dynamics, top safety scores, and active safety features. The Atlas earned "good" ratings for all IIHS categories just missing a Top Safety Pick due to a Marginal headlight result, but its Superior front crash prevention rating will put your mind at ease. It also scored the top 5-star rating from the NHTSA.
Volkswagen made more features standard for the 2019 Atlas including blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning & autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring and lane departure warning are available to give you the best chance at preventing an accident before it occurs and keeping all passengers safe on the road.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas starting MSRP: $30,895
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4. 2019 Ford Edge
The 2019 Ford Edge accommodates families that only need seating for 5 but are looking for generous passenger and cargo space. There is no shortage of legroom or headroom in the front and back rows so no one is cramped. Instead of a third row, this midsize SUV has 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The 2019 Edge earns a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS with "good" ratings across every category besides headlights and Child Seat Latch ease of use for which it earned "acceptable" ratings. It also aces the NHTSA safety rating with 5/5 stars.
Ford’s CoPilot 360 suite of safety features makes the Edge a smart choice. The safety suite includes features like a blind spot system, Lane Keeping Assist, Pre-Collision Assist, a rearview camera, Reverse Sensing System, an individual tire pressure monitoring system, and the SOS Post-Crash Alert System.
2019 Ford Edge starting MSRP: $29,995
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5. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe was redesigned for 2019 and offers a better driving experience than the previous model, a more distinct style, and increased legroom in the second row. Additionally, the 2019 Santa Fe is one of the safest midsize SUVs you can find with a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. It earned "good ratings" for all categories and an "acceptable" rating for the Child Seat Anchors LATCH ease of use. A 5-star rating from the NHTSA reinforces that this is a safe vehicle for you and your family.
To complement the top safety ratings, the 2019 Santa Fe is packed with safety tech to help you avoid an accident before it happens. Hyundai's Safe Exit Assist is a unique feature that warns exiting rear passengers when a car is approaching from behind. Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and the new Rear Occupant Alert are all available as well.
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe starting MSRP: $25,750
