The National Highway Safety Administration reported that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2021, which was an unprecedented 10.5% increase from the previous year. Motor vehicle deaths in 2021 reached the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the largest annual percentage increase in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System’s history. With traffic fatalities on the rise, it’s important to take precautions and minimize risk as much as we can. How can you reduce your risk of dying in a car accident? As morbid as that sounds, often, the vehicle itself can play a crucial role in your chances of surviving a car accident. The team at Alan’s Factory Outlet has created a guide to the safest new cars and the safest used cars using the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick parameters:
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What Is the Safest Type of Car?
Are SUVS safer than sedans? Are SUVs better for a family? These are common questions, especially for those seeking to expand their family. As far as SUV vs. sedan safety goes, there are several factors to weigh. Most people may assume that an SUV is safer than a sedan, and it is true that the size and weight of an SUV can play a crucial role in reducing collision fatalities. However, both sedans and SUVs are often equally equipped with life-saving safety features, and many sedans score highly in safety tests.
But SUVs offer extra space, which helps to reduce the risk of injury in a head-on collision. Another win for SUV safety is a recent crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. It found that a bigger, heavier vehicle provides superior crash protection over smaller, lighter ones, assuming that there are no other differences. The portion of the vehicle between the front bumper and occupant compartment is crucial for absorbing energy in crashes by crumpling, so the longer front end of larger vehicles can offer superior protection in frontal collisions. Heavier vehicles also tend to keep moving forward in crashes with lighter vehicles or other obstacles, so the occupants within experience less force.
Are Smaller Cars Less Safe in Collisions With Bigger Cars?
A lighter vehicle will always be at a disadvantage in an accident with a heavier vehicle. In recent years, however, automakers have reduced the threat that trucks and SUVs present with their size by lowering their energy-absorbing structures to be more in line with smaller cars.
What SUV Is Safest for a Family?
The safest small SUVs are the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Tucson, and Mazda CX-30. The safest midsize SUVs are the Ford Explorer, Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9, and Nissan Murano. The safest luxury SUVs are the Acura MDA, Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Audi Q5 Sportback, and Cadillac XT6. The safest large SUVs are the Audi E-Tron and Audi E-Tron Sportback.
What Is the Safest Minivan?
The safest minivans for a family are the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna.
What Is the Safest Car?
The safest cars to drive in the small category include the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Honda Insight. The safest midsize cars are the Honda Accord, Kia K5, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, and Subaru Legacy. The safest luxury cars are the Acura TLX, Lexus ES 350, Lexus IS, Tesla Model 3, and Volvo S60. The safest large car is the Kia Stinger, and the safest large luxury cars are the Audi A6, Audi A7, Genesis G70, and Genesis G80.
What Is the Safest Used Car?
If you’re looking for a safe car for teens, check out the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety list of the safest used cars available. Some of the safest used cars to buy include the 2014-15 Ford C-Max Hybrid, 2014 or newer Mazda 3, 2014 Chevrolet Volt, 2015 or 2018-20 Subaru Impreza (several articles state that the Subaru Impreza is one of the safest affordable cars available), 2019 or newer Toyota Corolla, 2019 or newer Honda Insight, 2013 or newer Subaru Legacy, 2015-17 Toyota Prius, and the 2015 or newer Toyota Avalon. Some of the safest used SUVs include the 2015 or newer Honda CR-V, 2015 or 2020 Ford Edge, and 2014 or newer Toyota Highlander. The safest used minivans are the 2015-18 Toyota Sienna, 2017 Kia Sedona, and 2017 or 2020 Honda Odyssey.
Your car can keep you safe, so why not return the favor? Check out our selection of durable carports and garages to keep your ride safe from the elements!
Top Small Cars
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Honda Civic 4-door hatchback | Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) Driver restraints (acceptable) |
| 2022 Honda Civic 4-door sedan | Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) Driver restraints (acceptable) |
| 2022 Honda Insight 4-door sedan | Rear passenger pelvis/leg safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Mazda 3 4-door hatchback | Headlights (ranked only acceptable based on trim) Driver torso safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Mazda 3 4-door sedan | Headlights (ranked only acceptable based on trim) Driver torso safety (acceptable) |
Top Midsize Cars
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Honda Accord 4-door sedan | Headlights (ranked only acceptable based on trim) |
| 2022 Kia K5 4-door sedan | Headlights (ranked only acceptable based on trim) LATCH ease of use (ranked acceptable) |
| 2022 Nissan Altima 4-door sedan | Headlights (ranked acceptable) Seat belt reminders (ranked acceptable) Small overlap front driver side structure and safety cage (acceptable) |
| 2022 Nissan Maxima 4-door sedan | Headlights (ranked acceptable) Small overlap front passenger side tructure and safety cage (acceptable) |
| 2022 Subaru Legacy 4-door sedan | Passenger restraints (acceptable) |
Top Midsize Luxury Cars
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Acura TLX 4-door sedan | Lower leg/foot driver safety (marginal) |
| 2022 Lexus ES 350 4-door sedan | |
| 2022 Lexus IS 4-door sedan | Headlights (acceptable) Lower leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Tesla Model 3 4-door sedan | LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Lower leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Volvo S60 4-door sedan | LATCH ease of use (acceptable) |
Top Large Car
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Kia Stinger 4-door hatchback | Headlights (acceptable) LATCH ease of use (marginal) Torso driver safety (acceptable) |
Top Large Luxury Cars
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Audi A6 4-door sedan | Headlights (acceptable) Lower leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) Passenger restraints (acceptable) |
| 2022 Audi A6 Allroad 4-door wagon | Lower leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) Passenger restraints (acceptable) |
| 2022 Audi A7 4-door hatchback | Headlights (acceptable) Lower leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) Passenger restraints (acceptable) |
| 2022 Genesis G70 4-door sedan | Headlights (marginal) LATCH ease of use (marginal) Torso driver safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Genesis G80 4-door sedan | Headlights (acceptable) |
Small SUVs
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer | Headlights (acceptable) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Lower leg/foot passenger safety (acceptable) Right leg driver safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Ford Bronco Sport | LATCH ease of use (acceptable) |
| 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Headlights (acceptable) Seat belt reminders (marginal) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Small overlap front driver side structure and safety cage (acceptable) |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson | Headlights (acceptable) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Seat belt reminders (acceptable) Torso driver safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Mazda CX-30 |
Midsize SUVs
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Ford Explorer | Headlights (acceptable) Seat belt reminders (poor) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Lower leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) Pelvis driver safety (acceptable) |
| 2022 Hyundai Palisade | Side crashworthiness (marginal) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Seat belt reminders (acceptable) Side structure and safety cage (marginal) Pelvis driver safety (poor) Torso rear passenger safety (acceptable) Child seat anchors (acceptable) |
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | Headlights (poor) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Head/neck passenger safety (acceptable) Child seat anchors (acceptable) |
| 2022 Mazda CX-9 | Seat belt reminders (marginal) |
| 2022 Nissan Murano | Side crashworthiness (marginal) Seat belt reminders (acceptable) Passenger restraints (acceptable) Side structure and safety cage (poor) Torso driver safety (acceptable) Pelvis driver safety (marginal) |
Midsize Luxury SUVs
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Acura MDX | |
| 2022 Acura RDX | |
| 2022 Audi Q5 | Headlights (acceptable) Moderate overlap front structure and safety cage (acceptable) Driver head protection (acceptable) |
| 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback | Headlights (acceptable) Small overlap front driver side structure and safety cage (acceptable) Driver head protection (acceptable) |
| 2022 Cadillac XT6 | Headlights (acceptable) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Small overlap front passenger side structure and safety cage (acceptable) Right leg/foot driver safety (acceptable) Child seat anchors (acceptable) |
Large SUVs
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Audi E-Tron | Headlights (acceptable) |
| 222 Audi E-Tron Sportback | Headlights (acceptable) |
Minivans
| Car | Potential Weaknesses |
| 2022 Chrysler Pacifica | Headlights (acceptable) LATCH ease of use (acceptable) Small overlap front driver side structure and safety cage (acceptable) Child seat anchors (acceptable) |
| 2022 Honda Odyssey | Headlights (acceptable) Small overlap front passenger side structure and safety cage (acceptable) |
| 2022 Toyota Sienna |
Safest Used Cars
| Small Cars |
| Ford C-Max Hybrid 2014-15 |
| Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback 2014 or newer |
| Chevrolet Volt 2014 |
| Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon 2015, 2018-20 |
| Toyota Corolla hatchback 2019 or newer |
| Honda Insight 2019 or newer |
| Subaru Crosstrek 2018 or newer |
| Midsize Cars |
| Subaru Legacy 2013 or newer |
| Subaru Outback 2013 or newer |
| Volkswagen Passat 2015, 2017 |
| Mazda 6 2014-19 |
| Toyota Prius V 2015-17 |
| Lincoln MKZ 2015 or newer |
| Volvo S60 2018 |
| Audi A6 2016-19 |
| Large Cars |
| Toyota Avalon 2015 or newer |
| Hyundai Genesis 2016 |
| Small SUVs |
| Mazda CX-5 2014 or newer |
| Honda CR-V 2015 or newer |
| Hyundai Kona 2018, 2021 |
| Mazda CX-3 2019 |
| Volvo XC60 2017 |
| Midsize SUVs |
| Ford Edge 2015, 2020 |
| Nissan Murano 2015 or newer |
| Chevrolet Equinox 2017 |
| GMC Terrain 2017 |
| Lexus NX 2015 or newer |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2017-19 |
| Toyota Highlander 2014 or newer |
| Minivans |
| Toyota Sienna 2015-18 |
| Kia Sedona 2017 |
| Honda Odyssey 2017, 2020 |