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Safest Sedans for 2024

ISeeCars.com
·4 min read

Vehicle safety should be a primary consideration for every sedan buyer, but what defines a safe sedan?

iSeeCars uses the rating systems from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as the basis for deriving an iSeeCars safety score for each sedan. These rating systems include NHTSA’s 5-star rating that tests a vehicle’s crashworthiness in a frontal crash, side impact crash, and rollover crash, plus the rollover risk for a given vehicle. IIHS’ rating system uses Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ to define safety, and is based on three crash tests that include frontal crash tests, side crash tests, and a roof strength test. IIHS also rates safety features like head restraints, front crash prevention technology, and headlight performance.

The safest cars will earn a 5-star rating from NHTSA and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, but iSeeCars doesn’t base its safety score on ratings from just a single model year. Instead we average a model’s safety ratings over five model years to come up with a 5-year average to determine a given model’s safety score. We also include a list of standard and optional safety features for each vehicle, including forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. These lists will vary by vehicle type, with large SUVs and luxury cars like BMW offering more standard features than economy cars like a Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla. See a complete list of these safety technologies, along with an explanation of what they do, below.

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How to Practice Vehicle Safety

New cars are safer than ever, but even today’s advanced safety systems can’t overcome unsafe driving habits. As advanced driver assist systems improve, drivers risk relying too heavily on them to overcome dangerous behavior, such as distracted driving or following a car too closely at elevated speeds. Studies have shown unrealistic expectations of these advanced driver-assist technologies have caused some drivers to neglect their own safe driving habits. But just as airbags and all-wheel drive improved vehicle safety when they were introduced years ago, today’s advanced driver system can’t shield occupants from irresponsible driving.

As the vehicle operator you’re the most important safety feature in your car. You can use the vehicle lists below to identify which sedans offer the highest safety scores, but you must always supplement those systems with safe and prudent driving practices, such as always wearing your seat belt, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles, and remaining focused on the task of driving your vehicle responsibly.

Here are the safest cars by category ranked by their safety score.

Safest Small Cars

  1. Honda Civic (coupe) - 10/10

  2. Honda Fit - 10/10

  3. Toyota Yaris - 10/10

  4. Toyota Corolla - 10/10

  5. Subaru Impreza - 10/10

Safest Luxury Small Cars

  1. Lexus IS 350 - 10/10

  2. Lexus IS 300 - 10/10

  3. BMW 3 Series - 10/10

  4. Volvo S60 - 10/10

  5. Acura ILX - 10/10

Safest Midsize Cars

  1. Honda Accord - 10/10

  2. Mazda Mazda6 - 10/10

  3. Ford Fusion - 10/10

  4. Nissan Altima - 10/10

  5. Hyundai Sonata - 10/10

Safest Luxury Midsize Cars

  1. Lexus ES 250 - 10/10

  2. Lincoln MKZ - 10/10

  3. Mercedes-Benz E-Class - 10/10

  4. Audi A6 - 10/10

  5. Cadillac CTS - 10/10

Safest Large Cars

  1. Toyota Avalon - 10/10

  2. Dodge Charger - 10/10

  3. Nissan Maxima - 10/10

  4. Chevrolet Impala - 10/10

  5. Ford Taurus - 10/10

Safest Luxury Large Cars

  1. Buick LaCrosse - 10/10

  2. Acura RLX - 10/10

  3. Lincoln Continental - 10/10

  4. Cadillac XTS Pro - 10/10

  5. Cadillac XTS - 10/10

Safest Hybrid Cars

  1. Toyota Prius (hatchback) - 10/10

  2. Toyota Camry Hybrid - 10/10

  3. Ford Fusion (hybrid) - 10/10

  4. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - 10/10

  5. Honda Accord Hybrid - 10/10

Safest Luxury Hybrid Cars

  1. Lexus ES 300h - 10/10

  2. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - 10/10

  3. Lexus LS 500h - 10/10

  4. Chevrolet Corvette (hybrid coupe) - 10/10

  5. Acura NSX (hybrid) - 10/10

Safest Plug-in Hybrid Cars (PHEV)

  1. Toyota Prius (hatchback) - 10/10

  2. Ford Fusion Energi - 10/10

  3. Toyota Prius Prime - 10/10

  4. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid - 10/10

  5. Chevrolet Volt - 10/10

Safest Electric Cars

  1. Tesla Model 3 - 10/10

  2. Chevrolet Bolt EV - 10/10

  3. Nissan LEAF - 10/10

  4. Hyundai IONIQ 6 - 10/10

  5. Polestar 2 - 10/10

Safest Luxury Electric Cars

  1. Tesla Model 3 - 10/10

  2. Polestar 2 - 10/10

  3. Genesis Electrified G80 - 10/10

  4. Tesla Model S - 10/10

  5. BMW i3 (electric) - 10/10

Safest Small Electric Cars

  1. Tesla Model 3 - 10/10

  2. Chevrolet Bolt EV - 10/10

  3. Nissan LEAF - 10/10

  4. Polestar 2 - 10/10

  5. MINI Hardtop 2 Door (electric) - 8.0/10

In summary, safety is paramount when choosing a vehicle, and these rankings highlight the best options across various categories. Whether you're looking for a small car, a luxury sedan, or an electric vehicle, the models listed here have proven their commitment to safety with perfect scores. Investing in one of these vehicles not only provides peace of mind on the road but also ensures you and your passengers are well-protected. As you explore your options, consider these top-rated cars that prioritize safety without compromising on performance or comfort.

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This article, Safest Sedans for 2024, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.