It's really hard to identify "the safest" car. The IIHS does a really thorough job testing vehicles these days, but most cars pass most tests. You used to be able to just say "Volvo" on the basis that they did more testing; those tests are pretty niche at this point, and don't pull quite the advantage that they used to. The most discerning new tests haven't yet been applied to luxury SUVs - I can say the Subaru Ascent and Ford Explorer/ Lincoln Aviator are looking pretty good, though! The IIHS also publishes a "driver death rate" for some best-selling models, and they report near-identically low rates for the Volvo XC90, Acura MDX, Lexus RX (Which has a 3-row sibling in the TX) and BMW X5 (whose 3-row version is the X7). Frankly, though, that's almost every 3-row luxury crossover they put on the list. I highly doubt that a Mercedes GLS or Audi Q7 performs observably worse. And that's only the luxury market that I assume you prefer - if you're open to the cheap stuff, add the Nissan Pathfinder/ Infiniti QX60, Chevy Traverse/ Buick Enclave, Subaru Ascent again, and the Honda Pilot. So, you now basically have a list of every 3-row SUV, which you must narrow down based on what you want. And man, an X7 looks pretty appealing if a big second row is a priority over the comfort in row 3. Plus, they're wonderful to drive and align well with your X5. I would probably recommend you at least consider a Lexus TX550h+ or Acura MDX Type S due to the sheer difference in running costs. Answer from TunakTun633 on reddit.com
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Major World
majorworld.com › home › top 5 safest used cars in an accident
Top 5 Safest Used Cars in an Accident - Major World
June 6, 2024 - We also see a lot of our customers buy them as a first car for a son or daughter, which is another instance when safety is extra important, naturally. See all the Honda CR-Vs in our inventory right here. Other compact SUVs with good crash safety ratings include ... The safest mid-sized used SUV on our list is none other than the perennial best-selling Ford Explorer.
Price   $
Address   43-40 Northern Blvd, 11101, Long Island City
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › what is the absolute safest production car on the road that can fit at least 4 people?
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: What is the absolute safest production car on the road that can fit at least 4 people?
March 17, 2024 -

When my wife got pregnant, I decided to get the largest, safe car she would tolerate driving (she had come from a 2 door convertible), so I got an 2023 X5 E45 (two rows) loaded with all the safety stuff. It's a pretty good car. However, we notice with all the kid's luggage (especially the stroller bag), our luggage, etc. it can get a little cramped and I expect we'll have our second kid in the middle of next year.

So now that my wife is comfortable driving a larger car, what is the absolute safest car on the road regardless of size that might also give us some additional room?

By safety, I mean both in collision survival and in driving (4/AWD for rough, snowy weather we face a few times a year) and safety features (emergency breaking, etc.)?

Cost is not a factor.

Top answer
1 of 21
23
XC90. This isn’t one that’s up for debate.
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It's really hard to identify "the safest" car. The IIHS does a really thorough job testing vehicles these days, but most cars pass most tests. You used to be able to just say "Volvo" on the basis that they did more testing; those tests are pretty niche at this point, and don't pull quite the advantage that they used to. The most discerning new tests haven't yet been applied to luxury SUVs - I can say the Subaru Ascent and Ford Explorer/ Lincoln Aviator are looking pretty good, though! The IIHS also publishes a "driver death rate" for some best-selling models, and they report near-identically low rates for the Volvo XC90, Acura MDX, Lexus RX (Which has a 3-row sibling in the TX) and BMW X5 (whose 3-row version is the X7). Frankly, though, that's almost every 3-row luxury crossover they put on the list. I highly doubt that a Mercedes GLS or Audi Q7 performs observably worse. And that's only the luxury market that I assume you prefer - if you're open to the cheap stuff, add the Nissan Pathfinder/ Infiniti QX60, Chevy Traverse/ Buick Enclave, Subaru Ascent again, and the Honda Pilot. So, you now basically have a list of every 3-row SUV, which you must narrow down based on what you want. And man, an X7 looks pretty appealing if a big second row is a priority over the comfort in row 3. Plus, they're wonderful to drive and align well with your X5. I would probably recommend you at least consider a Lexus TX550h+ or Acura MDX Type S due to the sheer difference in running costs.
Discussions

What is the absolute safest production car on the road that can fit at least 4 people?
It's really hard to identify "the safest" car. The IIHS does a really thorough job testing vehicles these days, but most cars pass most tests. You used to be able to just say "Volvo" on the basis that they did more testing; those tests are pretty niche at this point, and don't pull quite the advantage that they used to. The most discerning new tests haven't yet been applied to luxury SUVs - I can say the Subaru Ascent and Ford Explorer/ Lincoln Aviator are looking pretty good, though! The IIHS also publishes a "driver death rate" for some best-selling models, and they report near-identically low rates for the Volvo XC90, Acura MDX, Lexus RX (Which has a 3-row sibling in the TX) and BMW X5 (whose 3-row version is the X7). Frankly, though, that's almost every 3-row luxury crossover they put on the list. I highly doubt that a Mercedes GLS or Audi Q7 performs observably worse. And that's only the luxury market that I assume you prefer - if you're open to the cheap stuff, add the Nissan Pathfinder/ Infiniti QX60, Chevy Traverse/ Buick Enclave, Subaru Ascent again, and the Honda Pilot. So, you now basically have a list of every 3-row SUV, which you must narrow down based on what you want. And man, an X7 looks pretty appealing if a big second row is a priority over the comfort in row 3. Plus, they're wonderful to drive and align well with your X5. I would probably recommend you at least consider a Lexus TX550h+ or Acura MDX Type S due to the sheer difference in running costs. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/whatcarshouldIbuy
86
10
March 17, 2024
A definitive safest vehicle for 2024?
“Safest vehicle” depends largely on what kind of wreck you are planning to have. More on reddit.com
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113
20
July 22, 2024
What is THE definitive safest car to buy? 35k max
Used Volvo XC90. No one has ever died in one More on reddit.com
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615
262
November 12, 2023
what is the safest car i can buy. any year any company
Volvo. My wife got t-boned by someone who ran a red light, right into the driver's door. The police were shocked she was uninjured. They expected to find her dead. Volvo saved her life. More on reddit.com
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518
147
June 12, 2024
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Volvocarsarrowhead
volvocarsarrowhead.com › why-volvo-is-the-safest-car-brand.htm
Is Volvo the Safest Car in the World? | Volvo Cars Arrowhead
Volvo is the safest car brand in the world because it has consistently proven itself in safety testing, been a leader in safety innovations for decades, focused on accident prevention through features and handling, and prioritized the safety of everyone on the road.
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Nexus Auto Transport
nexusautotransport.com › homepage › what car has the highest safety rating in the us (2026)?
10 Safest Cars of 2026 According to Global NCAP Rating
1 week ago - The 2025 Tesla Model S stands out among the safest cars in the world thanks to the following innovative safety features: ... The 2025 Genesis G90 has received multiple commendations and awards for structural soundness, AI-assisted crash avoidance, ...
Price   $$
Address   444 N Michigan Ave Suite 1200, 60611, Chicago
(4.6)
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Ted Law Firm
tedlaw.com › top-10-safest-cars-2025
Top 10 Safest Cars in 2025 | Crash-Tested & Reliable
September 17, 2025 - EV architecture allows for a large front crumple zone, absorbing more energy in a crash. Roof strength is among the highest tested machines broken before the roof did. Tesla’s Autopilot and optional Full Self-Driving package provide adaptive cruise, lane departure · With continuous software updates, the Model S doesn’t just stay safe it gets safer over time. The Genesis G90 has quickly earned a reputation as one of the safest full-size sedans in the world.
Call   888-333-5555
Address   1075-A E Montague Ave, 29405, North Charleston
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HotCars
hotcars.com › home › car culture › 10 safest sports cars with the best crash test ratings
10 Safest Sports Cars With The Best Crash Test Ratings
March 7, 2023 - Safety does not mean soft. The 2019 Ford Mustang still has a beast of a V8 engine and is now one of the safest sports cars you can buy. It scores 5 stars in every crash test and 5 stars overall from the NHTSA.
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Euro NCAP
euroncap.com › en › ratings-rewards › safest-family-cars
Safest Family Cars | Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP results on recent small and large Family Cars and MPVs, that scored well in the area of child occupant protection
Find elsewhere
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IIHS
iihs.org › ratings › top-safety-picks
2025 IIHS Top Safety Picks
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
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What Car?
whatcar.com › home › feature › the safest cars on sale in 2025 - the latest crash tests
The safest cars on sale in 2025 - the latest crash tests | What Car?
June 25, 2025 - Here, we list the top 10 safest cars that are either on sale now, or arriving soon. Adult occupant protection 90% Child occupant protection 93% Pedestrian protection 89% Safety Assist 87% ... Despite many of its closest rivals being younger, the Tesla Model 3 remains one of the world’s best-selling electric cars.
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Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › rankings › safest-cars
These Are the Safest Vehicles for 2025
We’ve chosen the safest new vehicles in multiple segments based on data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and then rated them based on roughly 200 additional data points encompassing acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and how enjoyable they are to drive. Car and Driver‘s rankings are arrived at from the results of our extensive instrumented testing of several hundred vehicles each year and from our expert editors’ subjective impressions gained in real-world driving.
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U.S. News
cars.usnews.com › car advice
These Are the Safest Cars of 2026
September 12, 2025 - Several SUVs claim the top safety score, including the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, and Mustang Mach-E. Each of these electric vehicles earns a safety score of 10 out of 10.
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NHTSA
nhtsa.gov › press-releases › nhtsa-2025-vehicles-5-star-safety-ratings-testing
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings 2025 Crash Test Vehicles | NHTSA
Thirty-seven vehicles have been selected for testing this year, including eight electric and hybrid models. The vehicles will be evaluated in a variety of crash scenarios, including frontal, side and rollover crashes. NHTSA also announced the five vehicles it will test to verify the performance of certain advanced driver assistance systems.
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IIHS
iihs.org › ratings
Vehicle ratings
IIHS tests evaluate two aspects of safety: crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — and crash avoidance and mitigation — technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity. Suggestions will appear as you type. You can specify a year too. ... Learn how we conduct the tests that form the basis for our ratings. Buying a new or used vehicle? Learn how to compare car, minivan, pickup and SUV models on safety.
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NHTSA
nhtsa.gov › ratings
Car Safety Ratings | Vehicles, Car Seats, Tires | NHTSA
Go to Car Seats · Uniform Tire Quality Grading Systems (UTQGS) ratings allow consumers to compare tire features. Purchase a vehicle with safety in mind. Use NHTSA's Vehicle Comparison Tool to see 5-Star Safety Ratings and recall information at a glance. ... The Highway Safety Act established NHTSA and outlined its mission to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. ... Began testing and rating vehicles for frontal impact protection using data from crash test dummies.
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Global NCAP
globalncap.org
Global NCAP
... The Maruti Suzuki Celerio improves to three stars for adult occupant protection, thanks to six airbags now being fitted as standard. ... These are the last results before Latin NCAP updated assessment protocols bring significant safety ...
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Euro NCAP
euroncap.com › en › ratings-rewards › latest-safety-ratings
Latest Safety Ratings | Euro NCAP
Find Euro NCAP latest ratings for recently tested vehicles sorted by publication date, star rating and make with standard equipment or safety pack
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Realsafecars
realsafecars.com
Home | Real Safe Cars
It's not easy to determine which of these top scoring vehicles are the safest. Our mission is to improve safety ratings where the IIHS and NHTSA's crashworthiness ratings are weak. We use complex methods from academic research to relate vehicle features and crash test measurements to empirical death rates to predict how safe a vehicle is overall.
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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › cars › some cars will never be crash-tested, leaving consumers in the dark
Some Cars Will Never Be Crash-Tested, Leaving Consumers in the Dark via @ConsumerReports
July 19, 2024 - Some SUVs, luxury cars, and specialty vehicles, such as the Tesla Cybertruck and any Porsche, lack publicly available crash-test scores, leaving consumers in the dark about this important car-safety information.
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Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › cars › safest new cars of 2025, according to the iihs
Safest New Cars of 2025, According to the IIHS via @ConsumerReports
December 16, 2025 - The vehicles listed below do a good job of protecting occupants in different kinds of crashes, and they feature technology that can prevent collisions with other cars and pedestrians. Consumer Reports factors IIHS test results into a vehicle’s Overall Score. The IIHS, a safety group funded by the insurance industry, crash-tests vehicles and evaluates their automatic emergency braking (AEB) and headlight systems. Depending on their performance, the safest vehicles get either a Top Safety Pick (TSP) or Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) designation.
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HowStuffWorks
auto.howstuffworks.com › driving & safety › auto safety testing
10 Cars With The Worst Safety Ratings | HowStuffWorks
December 4, 2024 - Consumer Reports found that the three-row Journey has a very cramped interior, handles poorly and the V6 engine delivers the worst fuel economy in its vehicle class. If all that weren’t bad enough, the Dodge Journey also scored well-below average in terms of reliability and got a dreadful performance in its IIHS small-overlap frontal crash test.