00:45 22-05-2026

2026 Toyota Land Cruiser Misses IIHS Safety Award

The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser scored well in most IIHS tests but got Marginal in the new moderate overlap test due to rear passenger risks, denying it the award.

The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser missed out on the IIHS safety award despite strong performance in most tests. Its stumbling block was the updated moderate overlap frontal crash test, which now evaluates protection for rear passengers as well as those in front.

In the small frontal impact and side collision, the Land Cruiser earned the highest rating of Good with no heightened injury risk detected for driver or front passenger. However, in the moderate overlap frontal test, which simulates a head-on collision at just under 64 km/h, the SUV managed only a Marginal rating.

While the body and safety cage withstood the impact, concerns emerged over driver leg and foot injuries, along with rear passenger protection. The rear dummy recorded elevated risk of head, neck, and chest injuries. Moreover, the lap belt slid from the pelvis onto the abdomen, and the dummy's head approached the front seatback. That shortcoming cost the Land Cruiser the award, which requires Good scores in all three critical tests.

The Land Cruiser isn't alone in this issue. The updated IIHS test also handed Marginal ratings to the Toyota Highlander, Sienna, and 4Runner (which shares its platform with the Land Cruiser). The Lexus RX fared even worse with a Poor rating, whereas the Grand Highlander did better.

That doesn't make the Land Cruiser an unsafe car, but the new test highlights a key point: a strong frame doesn't ensure top marks if rear-seat protection lags behind the front. For a family SUV, that's no small matter—it's something Toyota will need to improve.