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According to our analysis of crash tests, braking, handling, and crash-avoidance technology, Mazda, Genesis, and Acura have the safest new cars.
Consumer Reports’ new safety verdict is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand score that helps you identify which new cars do the best job of preventing a crash or protecting you if one occurs, and which cars lag behind.
Our exclusive safety verdict is based on straightforward criteria: Cars that score Basic meet the bare minimum federal safety standards but lack the protections that CR says should be available to all consumers. Cars that score Better have several criteria above the minimum, but may not come standard with some features, may not have undergone some newer crash tests, or may have distracting controls. Cars that score Best excel in crash tests, come standard with key crash-prevention features, handle predictably, and don’t have distracting controls.
“A safe car has predictable handling and braking in everyday driving and emergencies, controls that don’t distract you, technology that can prevent a crash in the first place, and a design that protects occupants if a crash occurs,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports. “The safety verdict rating, now available for free on all new-car model pages at CR.org/cars, makes it simple for car owners and shoppers to understand the level of safety a car provides.”
Below, we’ve broken down what percentage of each major automaker’s lineup scores in each category. We’ve also shared the exact requirements for achieving Basic, Better, and Best.
See the complete safety verdict for every new car on the model pages, found via the pull-down menus at CR.org/cars or through the A-Z interactive ratings chart.
You might be wondering why some brands—including those well-known for safety—have a low percentage of Best-scoring vehicles.
For example, although Volvo was one of the first automakers to introduce safety innovations such as the three-point seat belt and side airbags, you won’t find Volvo ranked among the top brands. That’s because many of the company’s modern vehicles, such as the EX30, earn CR’s lowest usability score. “If controlling climate or audio functions distracts you from the task of driving, that’s a strike against safety,” says Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at CR.
Teslas generally perform well in crash tests and include effective crash-prevention technology, but the Model Y and Model 3’s reliance on a center screen for most of their controls can be distracting. Vehicles with the speedometer in front of the driver or with windshield wiper controls on an intuitive stalk don’t require the driver to look away from the road. For this reason, the brand scores near the bottom in our rankings.
Subaru isn’t at the top of the list because some models lack standard blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning. “We believe that safety shouldn’t be optional,” Fisher says.
Automakers that sell lots of full-sized SUVs and pickups may not be high on the list, either. “Some large vehicles can take longer to stop and don’t handle well in emergency situations,” he says. “A large vehicle might get into a crash that a smaller vehicle could avoid.”
Sign our petition to pressure car companies to make crash-preventing features standard.
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Keith Barry
Keith Barry has been an auto reporter at Consumer Reports since 2018. He focuses on safety, technology, and the environmental impact of cars. Previously, he led home and appliance coverage at Reviewed; reported on cars for USA Today, Wired, and Car & Driver; and wrote for other publications as well. Keith earned a master’s degree in public health from Tufts University. Follow him on BlueSky @itskeithbarry.bsky.social.
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