The Cars That Passed The Test
When it comes to safety, not all cars are built the same. Some vehicles absolutely crushed their crash tests — pun intended. We’ve ranked 22 of the safest cars in history, based on how they performed in official crash tests from the IIHS, NHTSA, and Euro NCAP. We’re going from really safe to “wow, that thing’s a tank.”
22. 2015 Subaru Legacy
IIHS Top Safety Pick+
The Legacy scored top marks in all five IIHS crash tests, including a solid performance in the tricky small overlap front test. It also came with Subaru’s EyeSight safety system, making it a standout in mid-size sedans for crash prevention.
21. 2012 Volvo XC60
Euro NCAP 5-Star Rating
This Volvo made headlines for scoring a near-perfect 94% for adult occupant protection. It was also one of the first cars with automatic emergency braking. Typical Volvo — safe, smart, and sturdy.
Mariordo - Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz, Wikimedia Commons
20. 2019 Toyota Camry
NHTSA 5-Star Rating, IIHS Top Safety Pick+
The Camry nailed all its safety tests and was praised for excellent roof strength and front crash protection. Toyota’s Safety Sense system added features like pedestrian detection and lane departure alert.
Jiří Sedláček, Wikimedia Commons
19. 2016 Honda Accord
IIHS Top Safety Pick+
The Accord’s body structure was beefed up for 2016, and it paid off. It passed the small overlap front test with flying colors and had great crash avoidance tech as standard on higher trims.
EurovisionNim, Wikimedia Commons
18. 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Euro NCAP 5-Star, IIHS Top Safety Pick+
This luxury sedan delivered both comfort and strength. It passed every major crash test and came with advanced features like PRE-SAFE, which prepped the car for impact if a crash seemed unavoidable.
17. 2020 Tesla Model 3
NHTSA 5-Star Rating, IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Tesla’s Model 3 scored top marks across the board, including a 5-star frontal crash and side pole rating. Its low center of gravity (thanks to the battery placement) makes it surprisingly stable in rollovers.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
16. 2017 Audi Q7
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, Euro NCAP 5-Star
The Q7 aced crash tests with strong roof strength and side impact scores. Audi’s standard Quattro system helped with stability, and automatic emergency braking came standard.
15. 2021 Mazda CX-5
IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (every year since 2017)
The CX-5 repeatedly proved its toughness, getting top marks in crash prevention, small overlap front tests, and headlight performance. Mazda hit the sweet spot between safety and style.
14. 2009 Honda Fit
IIHS Top Safety Pick (Small Car)
It may be tiny, but the 2009 Fit was the first subcompact to pass the tough side-impact test. Honda’s ACE body structure helped distribute crash energy away from the cabin.
13. 2014 Subaru Outback
IIHS Top Safety Pick+
This wagon tackled every test with top scores. The Outback’s high ride height and AWD made it safe in bad weather too. It also featured excellent crash mitigation systems for its time.
12. 2018 BMW 5 Series
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, Euro NCAP 5-Star
BMW blended luxury and crash protection, especially with its front crash prevention system. It passed both US and European crash tests with flying colors, earning praise for high-tech driver assist systems.
11. 2011 Kia Optima
IIHS Top Safety Pick, NHTSA 5-Star Rating
The redesigned 2011 Optima shocked everyone with its safety leap. It performed like a champ in frontal and side crash tests and introduced better airbag placement and structural design.
Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
10. 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, NHTSA 5-Star
Pacifica became the first minivan to ace the small overlap front test. It offered a full suite of safety features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert — making it great for families.
TastyPoutine, Wikimedia Commons
9. 2015 Ford F-150 (Aluminum Body)
NHTSA 5-Star, IIHS Top Safety Pick
Despite switching to aluminum, the F-150 earned top crash-test ratings thanks to high-strength steel in the frame and solid airbag coverage. It also scored highest in roof strength for a full-size truck.
8. 2005 Saab 9-3
Euro NCAP 5-Star, IIHS Strong Performance
Saab engineered their cars like fighter jets. The 9-3 showed it with excellent side-impact protection, crumple zones, and one of the first head airbag systems to deploy across all rows.
Mangan2002~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons
7. 2022 Hyundai Tucson
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, NHTSA 5-Star
Hyundai knocked it out of the park with this one. The Tucson aced crash tests and had some of the best standard safety tech, including lane-keeping assist and automatic braking.
6. 2006 Volvo S80
Euro NCAP 5-Star, IIHS High Ratings
This big Swedish sedan offered supreme crash protection, especially in rear-end and side collisions. Volvo’s WHIPS system (to reduce whiplash) was way ahead of its time.
5. 2013 Chevrolet Volt
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, NHTSA 5-Star
The Volt was an early hybrid that proved green didn’t mean flimsy. It had outstanding frontal and side crash scores and one of the lowest injury risks ever recorded in a crash.
MotorBlog from Ca, USA, Wikimedia Commons
4. 2012 Toyota Prius V
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, Excellent Roof Strength
Prius V may look tame, but it had one of the highest roof strength ratings of any vehicle tested that year. Combined with stability control and advanced airbags, it was one of the safest hybrids around.
3. 2021 Genesis G80
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, Near-Perfect Test Scores
Genesis put real muscle into safety. The G80 crushed every crash test and included high-end tech like junction assist, blind spot view, and highway driving assist — all standard.
2. 2013 Lexus RX 350
IIHS Top Safety Pick+, Best-In-Class Side Impact Rating
This SUV was an overachiever in side crash protection. It earned top ratings in every test and came loaded with stability control, collision alerts, and reinforced door structures.
1. 2011 Volvo XC90
Perfect Score from Euro NCAP, Best-In-Class Safety
The XC90 is the only vehicle to ever get perfect scores from Euro NCAP in all categories: adult, child, pedestrian, and safety assist. It was also engineered to withstand truck-level impacts. Simply the safest.
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