The safest cars and safest vehicles

THE SAFEST


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Mission Statement


 

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Provide a free, public service to guide consumers on the use of vehicle crash test ratings and fatality data—to save lives.

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Since 2003 InformedForLife.org has helped over 1/2 million visitors find the safest vehicles!

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On a typical day in the U.S. there are 17,000 vehicle accidents, seriously injuring 12,300 and killing 100.


Choose your vehicle as though your life depends on it!

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 Look up Comprehensive Safety Assessment and Ratings for all 2011–2021 Passenger Vehicles Here

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Click the down arrows▼next to Year▼, Make▼, Model▼, Style▼and then press GO to see the safety evaluation for your vehicle.

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See the InformedForLife.org Safety Evaluation for Your Vehicle
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Data are updated frequently. Latest update: Feb. 21, 2021

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 The safest vehicles are represented by the intersection of the circles and are listed below



The safest vehicles have BETTER THAN AVERAGE WEIGHT COMPATIBILITY**, are rated 5-STARS OVERALL by NHTSA, meet TOP SAFETY PICK criteria by IIHS, have a NHTSA side-impact rating of 5-Stars, a rollover rating of at least 4-Stars, and a vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system rated at least 5 points by IIHS.

 

The Safest 1% Passenger Vehicles for Model-Years 2019–2021

  8,356 vehicles have been evaluated for model-years 2011–2021: 1% meet SAFEST criteria; 19% have REDUCED SAFETY; 35% are LEAST SAFE; 45% have INDETERMINATE SAFETY.* .

  February 21, 2021   COMPATIBILITY NHTSA STAR RATINGS IIHS RATINGS
Year MODEL NAME SAFETY    RANK      within the top    1%        by year Multi-Vehicle
 Crash Factor (MVCF)**		 Class Vehicle Weight (lbs.) Overall Frontal Impact Side Impact Static Rollover Risk Frontal Impact-moderate overlap Side Impact Rear Impact Roof Strength Frontal Impact-small overlap: Driver side Frontal Impact-small overlap: Passenger side Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention System*** Vehicle-to-Passenger Front Crash Prevention System**** Headlamp Performance Rating*****
   
                               
2021 SUBARU ASCENT SUV AWD  1 0.5 SUV 4436 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 VOLVO XC90 T5 SUV AWD  1 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 VOLVO XC90 T5 SUV FWD  1 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 VOLVO XC90 T6 SUV AWD  1 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 VOLVO XC90 T8 SUV AWD  1 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 BMW X3 SUV AWD  2 0.6 SUV 4190 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2021 BMW X3 SUV RWD  2 0.6 SUV 4190 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2021 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV AWD  2 0.6 SUV 4300 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 MARGINAL
2021 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV FWD  2 0.6 SUV 4300 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 MARGINAL
2021 FORD EDGE SUV AWD  2 0.6 SUV 4237 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD EDGE SUV FWD  2 0.6 SUV 4237 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV 4WD  2 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV RWD  2 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD EXPLORER SUV 4WD  2 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD EXPLORER SUV RWD  2 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 HYUNDAI PALISADE SUV AWD  2 0.6 SUV 4243 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 HYUNDAI PALISADE SUV FWD  2 0.6 SUV 4243 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 LINCOLN AVIATOR SUV 4WD  2 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 LINCOLN AVIATOR SUV RWD  2 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 VOLVO XC60 T5 SUV AWD  2 0.6 SUV 4232 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 VOLVO XC60 T5 SUV FWD  2 0.6 SUV 4232 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 VOLVO XC60 T6 SUV AWD  2 0.6 SUV 4232 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2021 VOLVO XC40 T4 SUV AWD  3 0.8 SUV 3811 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 VOLVO XC40 T4 SUV FWD  3 0.8 SUV 3811 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 VOLVO XC40 T5 SUV AWD  3 0.8 SUV 3811 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN FWD  4 0.9 VAN 4327 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3460 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2021 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV FWD  5 1.0 SUV 3460 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD ESCAPE HEV SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD ESCAPE HEV SUV FWD  5 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD ESCAPE SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 FORD ESCAPE SUV FWD  5 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 LINCOLN CORSAIR SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 LINCOLN CORSAIR SUV FWD  5 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2021 MAZDA CX-30 SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3358 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 MAZDA CX-30 SUV FWD  5 1.0 SUV 3358 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2021 MAZDA CX-5 SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3498 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 4 GOOD
2021 MAZDA CX-5 SUV FWD  5 1.0 SUV 3498 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 4 GOOD
2021 SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD  5 1.0 SUV 3416 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
                                     
2020 AUDI Q8 SUV AWD  1 0.4 SUV 4946 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 SUBARU ASCENT SUV AWD  2 0.5 SUV 4436 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV AWD  2 0.5 SUV 4551 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? MARGINAL
2020 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV FWD  2 0.5 SUV 4551 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? MARGINAL
2020 VOLVO XC90 T5 SUV AWD  2 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 VOLVO XC90 T5 SUV FWD  2 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 VOLVO XC90 T6 SUV AWD  2 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 VOLVO XC90 T8 SUV AWD  2 0.5 SUV 4516 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 BMW X3 SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4190 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2020 BMW X3 SUV RWD  3 0.6 SUV 4190 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2020 CADILLAC XT6 SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4295 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 CADILLAC XT6 SUV FWD  3 0.6 SUV 4295 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4300 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 MARGINAL
2020 CHEVROLET BLAZER SUV FWD  3 0.6 SUV 4300 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 MARGINAL
2020 FORD EDGE SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4237 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD EDGE SUV FWD  3 0.6 SUV 4237 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV 4WD  3 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV RWD  3 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD EXPLORER SUV 4WD  3 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD EXPLORER SUV RWD  3 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 HYUNDAI PALISADE SUV FWD  3 0.6 SUV 4243 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 KIA SORENTO SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4154 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 GOOD
2020 KIA SORENTO SUV FWD  3 0.6 SUV 4154 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 GOOD
2020 LINCOLN AVIATOR SUV 4WD  3 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 LINCOLN AVIATOR SUV RWD  3 0.6 SUV 4395 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 VOLVO XC60 T5 SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4232 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 VOLVO XC60 T5 SUV FWD  3 0.6 SUV 4232 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 VOLVO XC60 T6 SUV AWD  3 0.6 SUV 4232 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 ACCEPTABLE
2020 AUDI Q5 SUV AWD  4 0.7 SUV 4114 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? MARGINAL
2020 VOLVO XC40 T4 SUV FWD  5 0.8 SUV 3811 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 VOLVO XC40 T5 SUV AWD  5 0.8 SUV 3811 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 GENESIS G80 4 DR AWD  6 0.9 CAR 4323 5 5 5 5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 GOOD
2020 GENESIS G80 4 DR RWD  6 0.9 CAR 4323 5 5 5 5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 4 GOOD
2020 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN FWD  6 0.9 VAN 4327 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2020 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DR AWD  6 0.9 CAR 4308 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2020 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DR FWD  6 0.9 CAR 4308 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3460 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2020 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3460 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD ESCAPE HEV SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD ESCAPE HEV SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD ESCAPE SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 FORD ESCAPE SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 HONDA CR-V SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3396 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 HONDA CR-V SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3396 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3449 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 GOOD
2020 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3449 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 3 GOOD
2020 LINCOLN CORSAIR SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 LINCOLN CORSAIR SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3480 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 ACCEPTABLE
2020 MAZDA CX-30 SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3358 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD
2020 MAZDA CX-5 SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3498 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 4 GOOD
2020 MAZDA CX-5 SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3498 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 4 GOOD
2020 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3401 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 1 ACCEPTABLE
2020 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS SUV FWD  7 1.0 SUV 3401 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 1 ACCEPTABLE
2020 SUBARU FORESTER SUV AWD  7 1.0 SUV 3416 5 5 5 4 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 5 GOOD

*SAFETY CATEGORIES:

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A.) SAFEST: all crash ratings in top quartile and NHTSA static rollover risk 4/5-Stars (no greater than the average rollover risk for an SUV class vehicle) and multi-vehicle crash factor not greater than 1.0 (driver fatality rate based on class/weight is not greater than the rate for the average passenger vehicle) and headlamp performance rated better than poor and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system rated 5/6 (designated "superior" by IIHS which means frontal impact speed is reduced at least 10 m.p.h.). Due to the limited number of vehicles tested for Vehicle-to Passenger front crash prevention system at this time the score for this system is not a criterion for the safest 1%.

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B.) LEAST SAFE: any crash rating in the bottom quartile and/or NHTSA static rollover risk 1/2/3–Stars (which is above the average risk for an SUV class vehicle) and/or multi-vehicle crash factor above 1.20 (driver fatality rate based on class/weight is at least 20 percent higher than the rate for the average passenger vehicle). Note: A vehicle is not classified as least safe if its only deficiencies are IIHS frontal crash prevention system score and headlamp performance rating.

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C.) REDUCED SAFETY: a vehicle that is not LEAST SAFE but has a least one crash rating between the top and bottom quartiles and/or multi-vehicle crash factor between 1.00–1.20 and/or IIHS frontal crash prevention system score less than 5 and/or IIHS headlamp performance rated poor.

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D.) SAFETY INDETERMINATE: any rating unknown, however, all known ratings meet the safest criteria.

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** The MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH FACTOR (MVCF) is the ratio of the driver fatality rate for a vehicle based solely on its class and weight versus the average driver fatality rate for all passenger vehicles in multi-vehicle crashes (23 deaths per million registered vehicle-years). It is a measure of vehicle compatibility. The relative weight of a vehicle compared with one it collides with in a head-on crash is a critical determinant of the forces the occupants are subjected to, however, neither size or weight are evaluated in crash test ratings and must be assessed separately.

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*** The Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention System evaluation conducted by IIHS assigns 1-to-6 points to vehicles equipped with frontal collision-prevention systems. The best score possible is 6 which requires a demonstrated reduction of impact speed of at least 22 m.p.h. Score = 5 demonstrated a reduction of 10-to-21 m.p.h. IIHS classifies scores of 5 or 6 as Superior. [In IIHS's 2018 report evaluating safety equipment they reported that auto-brake systems reduced front-to-rear crashes with injuries by 56 percent.] Vehicles within the safest 1% must receive a score of at least 5 points.

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**** The Vehicle-to-Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention System evaluation conducted by IIHS assigns 0-to-6 points to vehicles. Points are awarded based on the average speed reduction measured during five test runs. The best score possible of 6 points is achieved by reducing impact speed by 37 mph when the pedestrian is moving parallel to the vehicle and the system also warns the driver at least 2.1 seconds before impact. Due to the limited number of vehicles tested at this time the score for this system is not a criterion for inclusion in the safest 1%.

 

***** Some vehicles offer multiple headlamps configurations, depending on trim package and/or optional equipment and may perform differently than those rated above.



 

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