Keeping your family safe is the top priority, both on and off the road. When it comes to purchasing a family SUV, choosing one with top safety ratings and advanced safety features is a must. There are several excellent vehicles on the market, so how do you narrow down your options? Look for a family SUV that has plenty of interior and cargo space, driver assistance features, top technology features, and a full suite of standard and available vehicle safety features. Mazda and Jeep make some of the safest SUVs available that can give you the peace of mind you need when driving your family around Richmond or Ashland.
All vehicles are equipped with safety features, so what makes specific models stand out?
The best place to start is with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These organizations are the gold standard for automotive safety. Earning a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and/or a 4-star or 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA means that a vehicle is as safe as it possibly can be.
These Mazda SUVs and Jeep SUVs are among the safest for your family.
2025 Mazda CX-30: This Mazda SUV was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.
2025 Mazda CX-50 and Mazda CX-50 Hybrid: Both the gas-powered and the hybrid Mazda CX-50 models earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. Both Mazda SUVs also earned a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.
2025 Mazda CX-70 and Mazda CX-70 PHEV: The Mazda CX-70 gas and PHEV SUV models are both IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winners and received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.
2025 Mazda CX-90 and Mazda CX-90 PHEV: Like the CX-50 and CX-70, both Mazda CX-90 models earned Top Safety Pick+ awards from the IIHS and NHTSA 5-star overall safety ratings.
2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee: The Jeep Grand Cherokee was an IIHS 2024 Top Safety Pick winner, as was the long wheelbase model, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. All Jeep Grand Cherokee models earned NHTSA 5-star overall safety ratings: the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.
2025 Jeep Wagoneer: While this Jeep SUV isn’t an IIHS Top Safety Pick, it did receive the highest rating of Good under crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and seatbelts and child restraints LATCH ease of use. The Jeep Wagoneer and the Jeep Wagoneer L earned 4-star overall safety ratings from the NHTSA. The Jeep Wagoneer features some of the top vehicle safety features as standard, including blindspot monitoring and lane departure warning.
In addition to vehicle safety scores, look for family SUVs that have some of the most important advanced safety features. These include:
Blindspot monitoring: This system monitors the space your side mirrors can’t see and warns you if a vehicle has entered your blindspot. This is especially important when merging or changing lanes.
Forward collision warning: This safety feature uses cameras and radar to identify an impending front crash and sound an alert. Some systems will also apply automatic emergency brakes if you don’t respond. Some systems also include pedestrian detection that detects when pedestrians are in front of your vehicle.
Automatic emergency braking: As noted above, automatic emergency braking is typically paired with front collision warning. When the system detects that you’re about to collide, the brakes are automatically applied to avoid or minimize the collision.
Rear cross-traffic alert: This system is employed when you’re backing out of a parking spot, driveway, or driving in reverse. It alerts you when there’s traffic crossing behind your vehicle so you can stop.
Adaptive cruise control: Like traditional cruise control, this system maintains a preset speed when turned on. It also monitors driving and responds if the vehicle ahead of you changes speed, so you continue to maintain a safe distance.
Lane departure warning: This vehicle safety system monitors the lines on the road and will give you an auditory warning alert if you start to drift over into the next lane.
Mazda SUVs and Jeep SUVs deliver big on automotive safety. They also provide an excellent performance, spacious interiors, and family-friendly technology. If one of these safe family SUVs sounds like it will meet your needs, Whitten Brothers Automotive has an excellent inventory of new Jeep and Mazda vehicles. We have two Jeep dealerships and one Mazda dealership in Richmond and Ashland. Explore our Mazda SUVs and Jeep SUVs for sale, contact us to learn more about the safety of these vehicles, or stop in to test drive your favorite family SUV. We look forward to helping you and your family find your next ride!