These days, it’s possible to find in most new cars vehicle-safety features that just a few years ago would have been considered premium add-on options for luxury vehicles. Even modestly-priced cars come with these new technologies, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning systems or automatic emergency braking. Such features can save lives, reduce injury, and help avoid expensive collision repairs and insurance claims.
Though cars and roads are gradually becoming safer over time, an average of around 32,000 fatal passenger-car collisions occurred annually in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, excluding crashes that caused survivable injuries and property damage. In 2020, lighter traffic as a result of COVID-19 restrictions emboldened reckless driving habits, causing fatal crashes to jump to 38,680.
Though the safest vehicles tend to be luxury sedans and SUVs that offer the most safety features, there are also more affordable options that have received high marks for safety in the 2021 model year. (Here are the longest lasting cars on the road.)
To determine the safest new cars for 2021, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2021 Top Safety Picks. IIHS assessed the crashworthiness, crash prevention technology, and headlights of vehicles from the most recent model year. Only nameplates that sold over 5,000 units in 2020 were considered. Vehicle sales data came from GoodCarBadCar. Cars are listed in alphabetical order.
The IIHS divided the Top Safety Pick+ award winners by car size. Among them were a few small cars, such as the Mazda 3, and several midsize sedans, such as the Honda Accord. Many more SUVs, however, were among the top safety picks, including the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Hyundai Tucson small SUVs. Found out if these are the 25 least expensive cars to insure.
Click here to see the safest new cars for 2021
Source: Courtesy of Acura
2022 Acura MDX
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 47,816
[in-text-ad]
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Acura RDX
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 52,785
Source: Courtesy of Acura
2021 Acura TLX
> Type: Midsize luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 21,785
Source: nelyninell / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Audi A6
> Type: Large luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 10,536
[in-text-ad-2]
2021 Audi e-tron
> Type: Large SUVs
> 2020 sales: 47,324
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Audi Q5
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 50,435
[in-text-ad]
Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
2021 Cadillac XT6
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 22,610
24/7 Wall St.
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 34,292
2021 Ford Bronco Sport
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 5,120
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Ford Explorer
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 226,215
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Genesis G70
> Type: Large luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 9,436
[in-text-ad]
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Honda Accord
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 199,458
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Honda Insight
> Type: Small car
> 2020 sales: 15,932
Source: DarthArt / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Honda Odyssey
> Type: Minivans
> 2020 sales: 83,409
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Hyundai Palisade
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 81,905
Source: msvg / Flickr
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 101,513
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sjo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2022 Hyundai Tucson
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 123,657
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Kia
2021 Kia K5
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 31,656
Source: Courtesy of Kia Motors America
2022 Kia Stinger
> Type: Large cars
> 2020 sales: 12,556
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: trangiap / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Lexus ES 350
> Type: Midsize luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 43,292
Source: Koichi Kamoshida / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2021 Lexus IS
> Type: Midsize luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 13,600
[in-text-ad]
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Lexus NX
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 55,784
24/7 Wall St.
2021 Mazda 3
> Type: Small car
> 2020 sales: 30,352
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Mazda 6
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 16,204
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Mazda CX-3
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 8,335
Source: Tramino / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Mazda CX-30
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 38,064
[in-text-ad]
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Mazda CX-5
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 146,420
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Mazda CX-9
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 27,638
Source: ollo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
> Type: Midsize luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 25,119
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: teddyleung / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
> Type: Large luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 27,102
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 48,153
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Mitsubishi
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 27,133
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Nissan Altima
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 137,988
Source: Artistic Operations / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Nissan Maxima
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 18,141
[in-text-ad-2]
2021 Nissan Murano
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 58,256
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Nissan Rogue
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 227,936
[in-text-ad]
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Subaru Ascent
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 67,623
24/7 Wall St.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek
> Type: Small car
> 2020 sales: 119,716
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Subaru Forester
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 176,996
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Subaru
2021 Subaru Legacy
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 27,240
Source: ollo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Subaru Outback
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 153,290
[in-text-ad]
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Tesla Model 3
> Type: Midsize luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 206,500
Source: 152930510@N02 / Flickr
2021 Toyota Camry
> Type: Midsize cars
> 2020 sales: 294,348
2021 Toyota Highlander
> Type: Midsize SUVs
> 2020 sales: 212,276
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: YuriyVlasenko / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2021 Volvo S60
> Type: Midsize luxury cars
> 2020 sales: 11,946
Source: Tramino / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Volvo XC40
> Type: Small SUVs
> 2020 sales: 23,778
[in-text-ad]
Source: MarioGuti / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Volvo XC60
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 32,078
Source: ollo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
2021 Volvo XC90
> Type: Midsize luxury SUVs
> 2020 sales: 34,251
Sponsored: Want to Retire Early? Here’s a Great First Step
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
