We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But we may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
It’s impossible to predict every change on the road, but driving a safe car can help you walk away in the event of an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a five-star rating system to help you identify just how safe your vehicle is. Plus the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to get a more-detailed look at just how safe your is.
What are the safest cars in the US?
Take a look at these top-selling 2018 models that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated five stars.
| Type of car | Model and make |
|---|---|
| Passenger cars |
|
| SUVs |
|
| Pickup trucks |
|
| Vans |
|
How to use NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings
There are four points covered by NHTSA ratings and seven by IIHS. Knowing what those points are and how they’re evaluated can help you better compare how safe the cars you’re looking at are.
Your guide to NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings
Tips for finding a safe car in the US
- Look for a NHTSA rating of at least three stars. Most manufacturers strive to make sure vehicles have at least a four-star safety rating. Even older models are being held to the most up-to-date ratings.
- Compare similar vehicles. NHTSA indicates frontal crashes should only be compared against vehicles of the same type, but other ratings can be compared across classes. IIHS recommends not comparing any ratings across vehicle types.
- Look for airbags. All cars legally must have safety features like seat belts, but airbags in the front, side and back seats aren’t necessarily standard.
- Look for a car with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ESC allows you to break individual tires, making it easier to maneuver the car and avoid a crash.
- Get your car inspected. The only way to make sure the car you’re buying is safe is to have it inspected.
Options abound in the four- and five-star range for all types of cars and budgets, so don’t worry about safety limiting your choices.
How can I finance a new car?
- Secured car loan. This car loan uses your vehicle as collateral in case you can’t pay it back and tends to come with competitive rates compared to other options. Most car loans are secured.
- Unsecured car loan. You don’t risk losing your vehicle but you’ll need near-perfect credit to qualify. You can also borrow more than your vehicle’s value to cover extra costs.
- Personal loan. You can get an unsecured personal loan or back it with other assets to borrow as much as you like to buy a new car.
Compare a range of car loans
Updated December 6th, 2019
{"niche":"USFCL"}
What car types are there to consider?
NHTSA divvies vehicles out into three different categories for you to consider. Passenger cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks and vans are the three classes, but passenger cars are broken down into several subcategories.
Figure out which type of car you want, and from there you can just compare the safety ratings of vehicles in the same class.
Passenger cars
Assistive technology and safety features have improved greatly over the years, so newer cars are likely to have an advantage when it comes to IIHS and NHTSA ratings. You can find well-rated vehicles of all price ranges in any of the subclasses.
A car falls into one of these subclasses based on its curb weight.
- Mini. 1,500–1,999 lbs
- Light. 2,000–2,499 lbs
- Compact. 2,500–2,999 lbs
- Medium. 3,000–3,499 lbs
- Heavy. 3,500 lbs or more
Some popular overall five-star passenger cars include the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Altima.
SUVs
NHTSA doesn’t further subdivide SUVs into weight classes as it does with passenger cars, but you can usually find them labeled as compact, midsize and large.
The Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage are considered compact SUVs and are also five-star NHTSA rated and IIHS Top Safety Picks. In the midsize range the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander also hold a five-star rating and Top Safety Pick.
Pickup trucks and vans
With the Ford F-Series scooping up the award for top-selling vehicle in the US in 2017, there’s little surprise that the F-150 sports a five-star rating from NHTSA and held a 2017 Top Safety Pick from IIHS.
Other highly-rated and popular vehicles in the category include the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Honda Ridgeline.
Bottom line
Finding the safest car for you and your family depends on what type of vehicle you’re interested in. While NHTSA and IIHS ratings tell you generally how well a specific model and make does in a crash, the only way to ensure your car isn’t defective is to get it inspected before you buy it.
To learn more about buying and financing cars, check out our guide.
Frequently asked questions
Image source: Shutterstock
Ask an Expert