Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Each of these sedans arrives with a full set of standard active-safety features, so the separation comes from crash-test performance and, in the Legacy's case, an unusual mechanical advantage. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's tougher recent criteria have thinned the ranks of top performers, which makes the sedans that still earn the plus tier stand out. Measuring current IIHS awards and standard technology, the Toyota Camry is the safest of this trio, with the Accord close behind.2026 Toyota Camry NightshadeToyotaIIHS crash-test resultsOn the crash data, the Camry sets the pace. It earns the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in both 2025 and 2026, clearing the Institute's toughened bar that requires good scores in the small overlap front, updated moderate overlap front, and side tests, plus good pedestrian crash prevention and acceptable or good headlights across trims. Earning the award two years running under rising standards is a strong signal.2026 Honda Accord LX HondaThe Honda Accord matches that plus-tier performance, posting good crash scores and strong crash-prevention results that place it right alongside the Camry. The Legacy, now in its final model year, earned top marks in earlier rounds but has not carried a current plus-tier award as the tests grew harder. It remains a well-built sedan, but its crash-test credentials are no longer at the very front of the segment.2024 Subaru LegacySubaruStandard safety technologyAll three sedans come well-equipped. Toyota fits the latest Toyota Safety Sense suite as standard, bundling automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Honda counters with the Honda Sensing package, which covers the same core functions and performs reliably in everyday use.2026 Toyota Camry NightshadeToyotaAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Legacy's distinctive card is standard symmetrical all-wheel drive paired with Subaru's EyeSight suite. That combination gives it a genuine foul-weather advantage neither front-wheel-drive rival matches without an optional system, and for a driver in a snowy region, that traction is a real safety benefit. The catch is that the Legacy is being retired, and its crash-test ratings under the newest protocols do not top the other two.2026 Honda Accord LXHondaWeighing daily usability against crash scoresSafety comparisons often come down to how you weigh different kinds of protection. The Legacy's all-wheel drive helps a driver avoid a crash in slippery conditions, which is valuable and easy to overlook in a pure crash-test tally. Buyers who face regular winter weather have a legitimate reason to favor it.2024 Subaru LegacySubaruFor most buyers, though, the combination of proven crash protection and current top-tier awards matters more, and there the Camry and Accord lead. Both are newer designs engineered against the latest standards, and both back their scores with comprehensive standard driver aids, which is why they finish ahead on the overall safety picture.So which one is the safest?The Toyota Camry is the safest of the three. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in both 2025 and 2026, comes standard with the full Toyota Safety Sense suite, and pairs strong occupant protection with reliable crash-avoidance technology. The Honda Accord is nearly its equal and the right choice for a buyer who prefers its driving feel or interior, since it also earns Top Safety Pick+ honors. The Subaru Legacy is the pick for someone who values standard all-wheel drive for winter security and is comfortable with a model in its final year, but on the latest crash-test awards it trails, and buyers focused strictly on safety should look to the Camry first.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.