Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets safety standards for all vehicles sold in the U.S., some auto manufacturers go beyond the minimum regulations. These car brands and models may reduce the risk of a car accident or better protect you when one happens.
Making Cars Safer
Motor vehicles are much safer in 2025 than ever before. The motor vehicle fatality rate peaked in 1937 at nearly 31 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents. Since then, the numbers have fluctuated from year to year but have generally fallen.
The most recent year with full statistics is 2022. That year, the death rate was less than 14 fatalities per 100,000 residents, even though most American households own at least one vehicle. Although the rate has fallen, the total number of deaths has remained between about 36,000 and 48,000 per year due to population growth.
Experts attribute vehicle safety improvements to technological advancements, improved designs, and changes in driver behaviors.
For instance, drivers are more likely to wear seat belts now than in the past. Vehicles also now include traction control and proximity sensors to help drivers avoid crashes. Even though they pose a small risk of seat belt or airbag injuries, safety restraints save thousands of lives annually.
Many of these improvements were required by law. For example, the law has required all auto manufacturers to include airbags in vehicle models of 1999 or newer. Despite the universality of these requirements, the safest car companies still do a little better in protecting vehicle occupants than others.
What Cars Are the Safest in 2025?
Determining who makes the safest car is complicated. When comparing vehicle safety, the NHTSA suggests comparing vehicles of similar weight and class. Different vehicle types have different vulnerabilities. For example, SUVs have a higher center of gravity and, thus, a higher risk of rollover crashes than sedans. As a result, they cannot be compared directly.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests vehicle safety using the following criteria:
- Small overlap frontal collision test
- Moderate overlap frontal collision test
- Side-impact collision test
- Headlights standard
- Pedestrian accident prevention test
The safest cars on the road for the 2024 model year include the following compact cars:
- Acura Integra 4-door hatchback
- Honda Civic 4-door hatchback
- Honda Civic 4-door sedan
- Hyundai Elantra 4-door sedan
- Kia K4 4-door sedan
- Mazda 3 4-door hatchback
- Mazda 3 4-door sedan
- Mini Countryman 4-door hatchback
- Subaru Impreza 4-door wagon
- Subaru WRX 4-door sedan
- Toyota Corolla 4-door sedan
- Toyota Prius 4-door hatchback
- Toyota Prius Prime 4-door hatchback
The safest midsize cars for that model year include the following:
- Honda Accord 4-door sedan
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 4-door sedan
- Hyundai Sonata 4-door sedan
- Subaru Outback 4-door wagon
- Toyota Camry 4-door sedan
The IIHS separates luxury cars from other vehicles. The safe sedans in the luxury class include the following:
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4-door sedan
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4-door sedan
- BMW 5 series 4-door sedan
- Genesis Electrified G80 4-door sedan
- Genesis G80 4-door sedan
- Genesis G90 4-door sedan
The IIHS only listed one large car in 2024. The Toyota Crown 4-door sedan was the only vehicle with a top safety rating according to its criteria.
SUVs and Minivans
Among small SUVs, the IIHS identified the following models as the safest:
- BMW X1 4-door SUV
- BMW X2 4-door SUV
- Genesis GV60 4-door SUV
- Honda CR-V 4-door SUV
- Honda HR-V 4-door SUV
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 4-door SUV
- Hyundai Kona 4-door SUV
- Hyundai Tucson 4-door SUV
- Kia Sportage 4-door SUV
- Lexus RZ 4-door SUV
- Lexus UX 4-door SUV
- Mazda CX-30 4-door SUV
- Mazda CX-50 4-door SUV
- Nissan Kicks 4-door SUV
- Subaru Forester 4-door SUV
- Subaru Solterra 4-door SUV
The midsize SUVs identified by the IIHS as top safety picks in 2024 include the following:
- Ford Explorer 4-door SUV
- Ford Mustang Mach-E 4-door SUV
- Honda Pilot 4-door SUV
- Hyundai Palisade 4-door SUV
- Hyundai Santa Fe 4-door SUV
- Jeep Grand Cherokee 4-door SUV
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4-door SUV
- Kia EV9 4-door SUV
- Kia Sorento 4-door SUV
- Kia Telluride 4-door SUV
- Mazda CX-70 4-door SUV
- Mazda CX-70 PHEV 4-door SUV
- Mazda CX-90 4-door SUV
- Mazda CX-90 PHEV 4-door SUV
- Nissan Ariya 4-door SUV
- Nissan Pathfinder 4-door SUV
- Subaru Ascent 4-door SUV
- Toyota Crown Signia 4-door SUV
- Toyota Highlander 4-door SUV
- Volkswagen Atlas 4-door SUV
- Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 4-door SUV
- Volkswagen ID.4 4-door SUV
Large SUVs on the IIHS’s top safety picks include the following:
- Audi Q7 4-door SUV
- Audi Q8 4-door SUV
- Audi Q8 e-tron 4-door SUV
- Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron 4-door SUV
- Infiniti QX80 4-door SUV
- Jeep Wagoneer 4-door SUV
- Rivian R1S 4-door SUV
As with sedans, the IIHS separated luxury SUV models from other models. The luxury SUVs with top safety ratings include the following:
- Acura MDX 4-door SUV
- Acura RDX 4-door SUV
- Audi Q4 e-tron 4-door SUV
- Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron 4-door SUV
- BMW X3 4-door SUV
- BMW X5 4-door SUV
- Genesis Electrified GV70 4-door SUV
- Genesis GV70 4-door SUV
- Genesis GV80 4-door SUV
- Infiniti QX60 4-door SUV
- Lexus NX 4-door SUV
- Lexus NX Plug-In Hybrid 4-door SUV
- Lexus RX 4-door SUV
- Lincoln Nautilus 4-door SUV
- Mercedes-Benz GLC 4-door SUV
- Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4-door SUV
- Tesla Model Y 4-door SUV
- Tesla Model Y AWD 4-door SUV
- Volvo XC90 4-door SUV
- Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid 4-door SUV
Two minivan models appeared among the top safety picks. Both the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna received high safety ratings.
Pickup Trucks
The IIHS also rated large pickup trucks. Those that earned top safety ratings included the following:
- Ford F-150 crew cab pickup
- Ford F-150 extended cab pickup
- Rivian R1T crew cab pickup
- Toyota Tundra extended cab pickup
- Toyota Tundra crew cab pickup
- Toyota Tundra extended cab pickup
Only two smaller pickup trucks earned top safety ratings. These pickups included the Hyundai Santa Cruz crew cab pickup and the Toyota Tacoma crew cab pickup.
Consider All Elements of Car Safety
The most common cause of auto accidents is driver error. Thus, accidents still happen even when you drive a safe vehicle. However, a safe vehicle can reduce the severity of the injuries you suffer, potentially allowing you to survive a serious collision.
