Cars With the Best Safety Features in 2024
The latest safety and driver-assistance features are no longer exclusive to luxury vehicles. Many of the technologies that were once found only in premium cars are now available, and sometimes standard, in more affordable models. Features like automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and driver monitoring systems are becoming commonplace, helping to make roads safer for everyone.
This list highlights vehicles that have earned high safety scores from U.S. News, based on standard and available safety features, along with crash test data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
2024 Infiniti QX60
Safety Score: 9.2/10 | Overall Score: 7.8/10
The Infiniti QX60 is a spacious and comfortable luxury midsize SUV. It earned Good scores in all four IIHS crash tests and received a Top Safety Pick+ rating. NHTSA testing awarded this Infiniti an overall safety rating of five out of five stars.
- Standard safety features: Rearview camera, Rear parking sensors, Forward-collision warning, Pedestrian detection, Forward automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Lane-departure warning, and Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
- Optional safety features: Head-up display, Adaptive cruise control, Lane-keep assist, Blind-spot intervention, Surround-view parking camera system, Front parking sensors, Rearview mirror camera, Traffic-sign recognition, and Driver-attention monitoring.
2024 Mitsubishi Outlander
Safety Score: 9.4/10 | Overall Score: 7.6/10
The Mitsubishi Outlander is worth considering if you’re looking for a safe and budget-friendly compact SUV. It can seat up to seven passengers, which is unusual for this class. The IIHS gave the Outlander top marks for its performance in three crash tests and a Top Safety Pick rating. NHTSA testing for 2024 is not yet completed.
- Standard safety features: Rearview camera, Rear parking sensors, Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Front and rear collision warning, Pedestrian detection, Automatic emergency braking, Lane-departure warning, Automatic high-beam headlights, Driver-attention monitoring, and Rear-seat alert.
- Optional safety features: Front parking sensors, Surround-view parking camera system, Adaptive cruise control, Lane-keep assist, Lane-centering assist, Traffic-sign recognition, Head-up display, and Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
2024 Genesis GV70
Safety Score: 9.4/10 | Overall Score: 8.6/10
The Genesis GV70 excels in the luxury compact SUV class, with a great safety score backed by a stylish design and a wealth of features. The 2024 GV70 hasn’t been fully tested by NHTSA, but it earned a Good rating in all completed IIHS crash tests, as well as the Top Safety Pick+ designation.
- Standard safety features: Rearview camera, Forward collision warning, Forward automatic emergency braking, Pedestrian and cyclist detection, Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist (adaptive cruise control with lane centering), Lane-keep assist, Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Rear parking sensors, and Vehicle exit warning.
- Optional safety features: Reverse collision warning, Reverse automatic emergency braking, Intersection assist, Head-up display, Rear-seat alert, Blind-spot camera, and Surround-view camera system.
2024 Honda HR-V
Safety Score: 9.6/10 | Overall Score: 8.0/10
The Honda HR-V, a spacious subcompact crossover, provides excellent value. The 2024 HR-V is a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS, earning Good scores in all tests. NHTSA testing also gave the HR-V a five-star overall rating.
- Standard safety features: Forward collision warning, Forward automatic emergency braking, Adaptive cruise control, Lane-departure warning, Lane-keep assist, Traffic-jam assist, Road-sign recognition, Driver-attention alert, Automatic high-beam headlights, Rearview camera, and Rear-seat alert.
- Optional safety features: Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, and Front and rear parking sensors.
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Safety Score: 9.7/10 | Overall Score: 8.4/10
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric crossover is a great choice if you’re looking for an efficient, affordable, and safe compact car. It offers seating for five and is well-regarded in the electric SUV rankings. Although it hasn’t been fully evaluated by NHTSA, it earned a mix of four- and five-star ratings in tests conducted. In IIHS testing, this Hyundai earned four Good ratings and a Top Safety Pick+ rating.
- Standard safety features: Rearview camera, Forward collision warning, Forward automatic emergency braking, Pedestrian detection, Adaptive cruise control, Rear cross-traffic alert, Blind-spot monitoring, Lane-keep assist, Lane-centering assist, Traffic-sign recognition, Driver-attention monitoring, Vehicle exit warning, Rear-seat alert, Rear parking sensors, and Automatic high-beam headlights.
- Optional safety features: Surround-view camera system, Front parking sensors, Park assist, Blind-spot camera, Rain-sensing windshield wipers, and Head-up display.
2024 Lexus RC
Safety Score: 10/10 | Overall Score: 7.1/10
The Lexus RC is a desirable luxury small car, offering plenty of safety tech. It fares well in IIHS crash tests, receiving Good scores in all categories.
- Standard safety features: Forward collision warning, Forward automatic emergency braking, Pedestrian detection, Lane-departure warning, Lane-keep assist, Adaptive cruise control, Automatic high-beam headlights, Blind-spot monitoring, and Rear cross-traffic alert.
- Optional safety features: Front and rear parking sensors, and Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
2024 Volvo C40 Recharge
Safety Score: 10/10 | Overall Score: 7.7/10
The Volvo C40 Recharge earns high marks for safety. It hasn’t been tested by NHTSA, but it earned Good scores in four IIHS tests.
- Standard safety features: Forward collision warning, Forward automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Rear parking sensors, Lane-departure warning, Lane-keep assist, Traffic-sign recognition, and Adaptive fog lights.
- Optional safety features: Pilot Assist, Adaptive cruise control, Surround-view parking camera system, and Front and side parking sensors.
2024 Acura TLX
Safety Score: 10/10 | Overall Score: 7.8/10
The Acura TLX is a well-equipped and value-priced luxury midsize car. NHTSA gave it an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, and the IIHS awarded Good scores in its crash tests.
- Standard safety features: Rearview camera, Forward collision warning, Forward automatic emergency braking, Pedestrian detection, Adaptive cruise control, Lane-departure warning, Lane-keep assist, Traffic-sign recognition, Traffic-jam assist, and Automatic high-beam headlights.
- Optional safety features: Front and rear parking sensors, Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Surround-view parking camera system, Head-up display, and Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
2024 Volvo V90
Safety Score: 10/10 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1/10
The Volvo V90, a wagon, has elegant styling and great safety credentials. The IIHS gave the V90 Good ratings in all completed crash test categories. NHTSA testing is not yet complete.
- Standard safety features: Rearview camera, Front and rear parking sensors, Blind-spot monitoring, Rear cross-traffic alert, Forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Forward automatic emergency braking, Lane-departure warning, Lane-keep assist, Pilot Assist, Driver-attention monitoring, Traffic-sign recognition, and Automatic high-beam headlights.
- Optional safety features: Surround-view parking camera system and Head-up display.
