Top 15 Safest Cars Leading the Global Market Today
For commuters and automakers alike, safety is paramount. Courtesy of modern innovative technologies like crash detection and avoidance technology, adaptive cruise control, and impact mitigation airbags, cars today are generally safer than they ever were.
As AI takes center stage, working with drivers and passengers leads many car enthusiasts to believe a future free of unintentional car crashes may be decades away. According to the IIHS, Euro NCAP, and NHTSA ratings, here are the safest cars of 2024 currently dominating the global market.
1. 2024 Acura Integra
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There’s no shortage of safety features on the 2024 Acura Integra, making it one of the safest cars on the Consumer Report list. Fielding a Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which narrows the propensity of collision with pedestrians using its blind spot monitoring technology, the Integra comes with an adaptive cruise control that automatically adjusts your car speed to match that of the vehicle ahead of you. The car recognizes traffic signs and has a lane-departure warning feature that pings drivers whenever they veer off.
The 2024 Acura Integra has a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is also one of the most revered on the list of safest cars ranked by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and is the recipient of the coveted Top Safety Pick+ Award.
2. Mercedes Benz C Class
A four-wheeled blend of glamor, stealth, and outer-worldly safety features, the Mercedes Benz C Class prioritizes drivers’ and passengers’ safety at the center of its grand design. At a starting price of $43,000, the mid-range luxury sedan tucks you safely in impact mitigation airbags on the front, sides, overhead, and knee in case of a crash.
The large family sedan’s anti-lock brakes can determine when one or more of its tires aren’t rotating under extreme braking, automatically adjusting the brake pressure so rotation can resume. Its stability control and anti-theft security system also make it one of the world’s safest cars.
The Mercedes Benz C Class adds a seatbelt pretensioner that automatically tightens to keep occupants in the best seating position during a collision, earning it a 5-star safety rating on the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
3. 2024 Hyundai Elantra
Another Top Safety Pick on the list (a notch lower rating compared to the 2024 Acura Integra), the 2024 Hyundai presents an in-house custom driver assistance technology, the Hyundai SmartSense — a safety finepoint comprising sensors, alarms, and a camera that pairs with you to ensure a hitch-free drive.
Through its cutting-edge sensors, the Electra can identify off-lane drifts, delicately correcting its course with near-sentient precision using its lane-keeping assist (LKA) technology. Its Driver Attention Warning (DAW) feature is also wired to constantly observe the driver’s head and eye movement and trigger an alarm system when it detects signs of distractions or drowsiness, drastically reducing the propensity of collision with other vehicles.
4. 2022 Tesla Model S
Tesla’s Model S has a 5-star safety rating from the Euro NCAP. The executive car scores 98% in Safety Assist and has a 91% safety score in Child Occupation Protection. The Model S, according to the IIHS, satisfies the requirement for forward collision warning.
Arguably the safest car ever made, The Tesla Model S strolled through the rigorous safety testing of the NHTSA to set the record as the vehicle with the lowest potential for occupant injury, thanks to its sturdy, crumple-proof build. The Model S’s other available safety features include daytime running lights, blind spot detection technology, and automatic emergency braking.
5. Toyota Prius 2024
Named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, the Toyota Prius is one of the safest cars of 2024. Small and compact to sight, the Prius rates highest in crash prevention and crashworthiness and is loaded with a plethora of safety features to safeguard the driver and passengers from head and neck injury in case of a high-speed impact.
The advanced driver’s assistance pre-collision system of the Toyota Prius 2024 simplifies passing maneuvering and merging on the highway, drastically reducing the potential for collision. The car’s adaptive cruise control also helps you maintain a set distance between the Prius and the car in front of you, further reducing the propensity of head-on collisions.
6. 2024 Genesis Electrified G80
The luxurious Genesis Electrified G80 is the electric version of the G80 Sedan. It is elegant, comfortable, and disturbingly quiet. Its effortless engine power allows it to reach 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
The G80 is, however, not all speed, comfort and luxury. It has received multiple safety awards, including a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, attracting the highest possible scores for its structure and safety cage as well as its overall driver evaluation. The G80 also has the highest possible ratings for driver and passenger restraints, making it one of the safest cars in the world today.
7. 2024 Ford Explorer
Popular for its roomy cargo area and appealing exterior, the 2024 Ford Explorer is one of the fastest cars in the global market today. The latest of the long-running Ford Explorer SUVs, the mid-size three-row four-wheeler combines its strong engine with an impressive array of safety features.
The NHTSA awards the 2024 Ford Explorer a safety rating of 5 out of 5, corroborating the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. By the IIHS, the Explorer aced all crashworthiness tests, providing the highest level of safety on collision to occupants, including children through its user-friendly child safety anchor.
8. 2024 Hyundai Sonata
When it comes to safety, the 2024 Hyundai Sonata ensures peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike. It’s one of the safest mid-size sedans out there, thanks to its suite of advanced accident-avoidance safety technology, like the Hyundai SmartSense. The SmartSense helps the car avoid collisions, change lanes effortlessly, and get a warning when it detects the driver’s attention is getting diverted.
The Hyundai Sonata received a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS and could have been awarded the highly coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating but for its deficient moderate front overlap. The NHTSA also rates the Sonata a 4 out of 5 for frontal impact protection and hands it a perfect score for its rollover safety, tipping it as one of the safest cars to drive in 2024.
9. Subaru Solterra
The Subaru Solterra reflects the manufacturer’s commitment to performance, reliability, and safety. Garnering high praise from the IIHS, the Solterra holds the Top Safety Pick+ and a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA.
Tipped for its premium driving experience, the Subaru Solterra features a quick-to-respond regenerative braking system that makes throttling seamless for drivers and drastically reduces wear and tear on brake pads. Added to its front, side, overhead, and knee airbags, the Solterra stability control, advanced adaptive cruise control, and anti-lock brakes make it one of the safest cars to drive.
10. 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
If you have a large family and desire a ride in a car with greater capability than the average family crossover, the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is your best bet. One of the safest mid-size SUVs on the market, the Grand Cherokee L received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA for crashworthiness and only fell short on the rollover metric, where it still scored a four out of five.
The IIHS also considers the Grand Cherokee L one of the safest cars of 2024, awarding it the highest possible rating of “Good.” One of the safety talking points of the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is the overhead airbags designed to protect the driver’s and passengers’ heads in the case of a side collision or if the vehicle ever rolls over.
11. Lexus UX
High on the reliability mark, the 2024 Lexus UX aced the front crash test of the NHTSA and has been assigned a possible five-star rating. The Lexus UX feels great to drive due to its high dynamic handling, offering great value for money in terms of overall performance.
The Lexus UX has safety features, such as standard lane departure prevention, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, and standard daytime warning lights. The car also reminds occupants to lock in their seatbelts and has received the highest possible rating from the IIHS for its LATCH ease of use.
12. Mazda CX-90 PHEV
Beyond its upscale and comfortable build, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV has one of the best crash avoidance systems on the market today. On both its high and low beams, the CX-90 PHEV avoids collisions traveling at 12 mph and 25 mph, staking its claims as one of the safest cars of 2024, according to the IIHS.
Built on Mazda’s new global rear-drive architecture, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV is equipped with blindspot monitoring, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control technology that is common to the safest cars on the market. It also has front and back parking sensors and an ultra-sensitive alarm feature that warns drivers when it detects drowsiness or concentration loss.
13. Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2024
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, introduced in 2020, along with its predecessor, the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, have the same safety ratings as the IIHS. The major difference between both cars is that the Atlas has two-seat rows, whereas the Atlas has three-seat rows.
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport scores the top safety Pick+ from the IIHS and an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA, highlighting the manufacturer’s keen dedication to occupants’ safety. Not so much of a lively car, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport compensates with a quiet cabin and comfortable seats for a hitch-free ride.
14. 2024 Nissan Ariya
The first electric SUV from the Japanese automaker, the 2024 Nissan Ariya, is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive and is one of the strongest vehicles you can buy in 2024. According to the manufacturers, the Ariya comes with standard driver-assistance features, including intelligent blindspot intervention, cross-traffic alert, and pedestrian rear emergency braking system.
The 2024 Nissan Ariya earns the coveted five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. However, the IIHS rating is not applicable to the AWD extended-range battery variant.
15. 2024 BMW 15
Beyond the lure of its fuel economy (which is unbelievable for a car in its class) and comfortable handling (even when off-road), the BMW i5 is one of the safest cars in 2024. Fielding similar safety features to the 2022 Mercedes Benz C Class, the sport sedan is the first in the potential line-up of BMWs with both an electric and an internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrain.
One safety feature that sets the 2024 BMWi5 aside is its innovative virtual navigation camera that makes making a wrong turn unlikely. Added to its standard lane departure warning, the car adds an optional lane departure warning feature, handing more control to the driver. For an upgrade, the BMWi5 offers hands-free driving assistance. Say you’re on the highway and would fancy a lane change; you could initiate the command by looking outside the window.
