The safest cars and safest vehicles

THE SAFEST


Informed For Life does not accept donations, funding, or advertisements, from any individual or organization.

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 motor vehicle accidents, injuring 7,000 people and killing 103.

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Choose your vehicle as though your life depends on it!

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Three Ways to See Safety Evaluations on this Website:

1. ► Lookup detailed safety assessment for any specific 2011-2018 vehicle by model-year and model name

2. ► Go directly to the listing of the safest one percent of vehicles. These vehicles meet more stringent safety criteria than IIHS and NHTSA combined!

3. ► Download the pdf file listing of all vehicles, displaying ratings and safety category [safest, least safe, reduced safety and  indeterminate safety]* 



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►1.) Lookup Safety Assessment and Ratings for any Specific 2011–2018 Passenger Vehicle 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: July 31, 2018

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►2.) 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, and meet TOP SAFETY PICK criteria by IIHS. They also have a NHTSA side-impact rating of 5-Stars, a rollover rating of at least 4-Stars, and a front crash prevention system rated Superior by IIHS.

The Safest 1% Passenger Vehicles for Model-Years 2016–2018

  

  5,936 vehicles have been evaluated for model-years 2011–2018 [1% meet SAFEST criteria; 24% have REDUCED SAFETY; 35% are LEAST SAFE; 40% have INDETERMINATE SAFETY.]* .

Note that no vehicles prior to model-year 2016 meet the SAFEST criteria --- due in part to lack of front crash prevention system testing and/or headlamp performance testing.

  updated July 31, 2018   NHTSA STAR RATINGS COMPATIBILITY IIHS RATINGS
                                   
Year Model Name within Model-Year
(All vehicles listed are in the safest 1%)
Safety Rank
(#1 is safest within the safest 1%)
Overall Frontal Impact Side Impact Static Rollover Risk Class Vehicle Weight (lbs.) Multi-Vehicle Crash Factor** Frontal Impact-moderate overlap Side Impact Rear Impact Roof Strength Frontal Impact-small overlap: Driver side Front Crash Prevention         System Score*** Frontal Impact-small overlap: Passenger side (NOTE: limited availability rating) Headlamp Performance Rating****
  SAFEST 1% CRITERIA >>>>>> 5 5 5 4 or 5 ~ ~ < 1.01 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 or 6 GOOD or ACCEPTABLE > POOR
2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4551 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 GOOD MARGINAL
2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV FWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4551 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 GOOD MARGINAL
2018 VOLVO XC90 T5 SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4516 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? MARGINAL
2018 VOLVO XC90 T6 SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4516 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? MARGINAL
2018 VOLVO XC90 T8 SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4516 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? MARGINAL
2018 LINCOLN MKX SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4489 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
2018 LINCOLN MKX SUV FWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4489 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
                                   
2018 GMC ACADIA SUV AWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4295 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
2018 ACURA MDX SUV AWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4237 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2018 ACURA MDX SUV FWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4237 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
                                   
2018 KIA SORENTO SUV AWD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 4154 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2018 KIA SORENTO SUV FWD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 4154 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2018 AUDI Q5 SUV AWD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 4114 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 GOOD MARGINAL
2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC-CLASS SUV 4WD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 4026 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 GOOD GOOD
2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC-CLASS SUV RWD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 4026 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 GOOD GOOD
2018 HONDA RIDGELINE PU/CC AWD  3 5 5 5 4 PU 4216 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2018 HONDA RIDGELINE PU/CC FWD  3 5 5 5 4 PU 4216 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
                                   
2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT SUV AWD  4 5 5 5 4 SUV 3877 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ACCEPTABLE GOOD
2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT SUV FWD  4 5 5 5 4 SUV 3877 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ACCEPTABLE GOOD
2018 KIA SEDONA VAN FWD  4 5 5 5 4 VAN 4583 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2018 ACURA RDX SUV AWD  4 5 5 5 4 SUV 3806 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? ACCEPTABLE
2018 ACURA RDX SUV FWD  4 5 5 5 4 SUV 3806 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? ACCEPTABLE
                                   
2018 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VAN FWD  5 5 5 5 4 VAN 4378 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2018 GENESIS G80 4 DR AWD  5 5 5 5 5 CAR 4323 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD GOOD
2018 GENESIS G80 4 DR RWD  5 5 5 5 5 CAR 4323 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD GOOD
2018 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN FWD  5 5 5 5 4 VAN 4327 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
2018 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DR AWD  5 5 5 5 4 CAR 4308 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD GOOD
2018 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DR FWD  5 5 5 5 4 CAR 4308 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD GOOD
                                   
2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV AWD  6 5 5 5 4 SUV 3449 1.0 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV FWD  6 5 5 5 4 SUV 3449 1.0 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
                                   
2017 VOLVO XC90 T5 SW AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4516 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? MARGINAL
2017 VOLVO XC90 T6 SW AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4516 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? MARGINAL
2017 VOLVO XC90 T8 SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4516 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? MARGINAL
2017 LINCOLN MKX SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4489 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
2017 LINCOLN MKX SUV FWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4489 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
                                   
2017 GMC ACADIA DENALI SUV AWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4295 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
2017 ACURA MDX SUV AWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4237 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2017 ACURA MDX SUV FWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4237 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2017 VOLVO XC60 SW AWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4172 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? GOOD
2017 VOLVO XC60 SW FWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4172 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? GOOD
                                   
2017 HONDA RIDGELINE PU/CC AWD  3 5 5 5 4 PU 4216 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
2017 HONDA RIDGELINE PU/CC FWD  3 5 5 5 4 PU 4216 0.7 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? GOOD
                                   
2017 ACURA RDX SUV AWD  4 5 5 5 4 SUV 3806 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? ACCEPTABLE
2017 ACURA RDX SUV FWD  4 5 5 5 4 SUV 3806 0.8 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? ACCEPTABLE
                                   
2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA VAN FWD  5 5 5 5 4 VAN 4378 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 ? ACCEPTABLE
2017 GENESIS G80 4 DR AWD  5 5 5 5 5 CAR 4323 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
2017 GENESIS G80 4 DR RWD  5 5 5 5 5 CAR 4323 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DR AWD  5 5 5 5 4 CAR 4308 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD GOOD
2017 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DR RWD  5 5 5 5 4 CAR 4308 0.9 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD GOOD
                                   
2017 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV AWD  6 5 5 5 4 SUV 3449 1.0 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
2017 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV FWD  6 5 5 5 4 SUV 3449 1.0 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
                                   
2016 LINCOLN MKX SUV AWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4489 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
2016 LINCOLN MKX SUV FWD  1 5 5 5 4 SUV 4489 0.5 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD MARGINAL
                                   
2016 VOLVO XC60 SUV AWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4172 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? MARGINAL
2016 VOLVO XC60 SUV FWD  2 5 5 5 4 SUV 4172 0.6 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 5 ? MARGINAL
                                   
2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV AWD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 3449 1.0 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE
2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV FWD  3 5 5 5 4 SUV 3449 1.0 GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD 6 GOOD ACCEPTABLE


*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 front crash prevention system rated 5/6 (designated "superior" by IIHS which means frontal impact speed is reduced at least 10 m.p.h.) Note that the IIHS frontal impact-small overlap passenger side rating is a very recent test and ratings are only available for a very limited number of vehicles. However, if this rating is known it must be at least ACCEPTABLE for the vehicle to be classified in 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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(For descriptions of vehicles used to perform crash tests use the search tool above to lookup individual vehicles.)

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** The MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH Factor 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 FRONTAL 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.]


**** Some vehicles offer multiple headlamps versions, depending on trim package and/or optional equipment and those ratings may be different than those shown above.



 

..►3.) Download pdf file showing safety assessment and ratings for all 2011–2018 vehicles

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Untitled Document

Every effort has been made to be accurate and objective, however all information is subject to errors and omissions.

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