Of 315 vehicles crash-tested by U.S. safety regulators, 256 earn a perfect 5-star overall NHTSA rating. The very safest — like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 — score five stars across every test: overall, frontal, side and rollover. By brand, BMW leads — about 100% of its tested models earn five stars.
The safest cars right now
Ranked by our ForCar Safety Score — NHTSA 5-star crash testing combined with real-world owner-reported injury severity and recall frequency. Every car here aces government crash tests; the score separates the very safest. Found one you like? Check what it's worth used before you buy.
| Vehicle | Type | ForCar Score | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | |
| Ford Mustang GTD | Coupe | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | |
| Kia K4 | Sedan | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ | |
| Honda Prologue | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Acura ADX | Wagon | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Audi Q6 | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Kia EV6 | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | |
| Volvo EX90 | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Nissan ARIYA | Wagon | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ | |
| Lexus RZ | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Toyota bZ4X | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Subaru WRX | Sedan | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | |
| Mazda CX-50 | SUV | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Toyota Crown | Sedan | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | |
| Lexus UX | SUV | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Safest cars by what you're looking for
The same crash-test data, cut the way people actually shop — by body type, by model year, by budget and by who's driving. Each list carries its own ranking and its own findings:
| List | Tops the list | Safety score | NHTSA rating | Cars ranked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safest SUVs | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Cheapest Safe Used Cars | Acura Integra | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars Under $30,000 | Kia K4 | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars Under $20,000 | Kia K4 | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars Under $10,000 | Subaru WRX | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars for Families | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars for Teen Drivers | Kia K4 | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars With the Best Gas Mileage | Hyundai Ioniq | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Car Brands | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars of 2025 | Ford Mustang GTD | 5★ overall | 40 | |
| Safest Cars of 2026 | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 5★ overall | 40 |
The safest SUVs
The safest SUV on our score is the Hyundai Ioniq 9, which takes 99 points out of 100. Every SUV shortlisted below already holds five NHTSA stars overall, so the order is settled by rollover — and that fifth star for rollover is held by only 2 of the 5. The complete ranking lives on safest SUVs.
Balancing safety with running cost? See the most fuel-efficient SUVs by MPG.
The safest car brands
Which brands build the safest cars — share of each maker's tested models that earn a 5-star overall NHTSA rating. BMW leads the pack — full table at safest car brands.
Safest by body type
Which kinds of vehicles are safest — share of models earning five stars, by body type. SUVs come out on top.
The safest cars for families
For families, crash protection plus size and rollover resistance matter most. Top picks below; the full list of full-size SUVs, vans and minivans is at safest family cars.
Safest cars — frequently asked
What are the safest cars?
By NHTSA 5-Star crash-test ratings, 256 current models earn a perfect 5-star overall score. The top picks — like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 — score five stars across overall, frontal, side and rollover tests.
What is the safest SUV?
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is among the safest SUVs, with top marks across NHTSA crash tests. SUVs earn five stars more often than any other body type.
Which car brand is the safest?
By share of models earning 5 stars, BMW leads — about 100% of its tested lineup earns a perfect 5-star overall rating.
How are cars crash-tested?
NHTSA (the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) crash-tests vehicles and rates them 1–5 stars for overall safety, plus frontal, side and rollover tests. Five stars is the highest.
Are 5-star cars actually safer?
A 5-star NHTSA rating means the vehicle performed best in government crash testing. It is one of the strongest, most objective safety signals available — though real-world safety also depends on size, driver assists and how the car is driven.
What are the safest cars for teens and new drivers?
Mainstream 5-star sedans and compacts make the safest, most sensible first cars for teens.
What are the safest cars for families?
For families, the safest picks are 5-star SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 — extra size and rollover resistance add protection when carrying kids.
What is the ForCar Safety Score?
It blends NHTSA 5-star crash tests (60%) with real-world owner-reported injury severity (25%) and recall frequency (15%) into a single 0–100 score — so even among five-star cars you can see which are genuinely the safest.
IIHS vs NHTSA — what is the difference?
NHTSA is the U.S. government's 5-Star Safety Ratings program, used here. IIHS is a separate insurance-industry body with its own "Top Safety Pick" awards and different tests. Both are respected; NHTSA rates the most models on a consistent star scale.
How we score safety
Cite this study
Journalists and writers are welcome to use these findings with attribution and a link to this page.
ForCar Research, “The Safest Cars: NHTSA 5-Star Ratings.” ForCar.org. https://forcar.org/safest-cars/Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.