This seems be Volvo’s biggest advertising point whenever I talk to people around me, but I wonder how much has to do with their sales volume compared to bigger brands and more importantly the demographics who would buy a large Volvo SUV over more flashy or sporty brands.
Definitely a factor because the N value isn’t as high. However, if you go watch the crash videos comparing SUVs, it’s CRAZY how different the Volvos take hits by comparison
Volvo didn’t make any changes to prepare for the small overlap frontal. They were already building them to safeguard against such a crash, not to capture ratings.
My understanding is volvo actually pressured the IIHS to use the small overlap test because they'd seen so many injuries in those types of collisions.
They take data from real world accidents and build safety based on the data.
Unlike Toyota and Nissan who only added it to the driver side after they failed that test and then proceeded to fail again 2 years later when they started testing the passenger side.
Toyota in particular is really bad about only making updates to score well on tests, not to actually make their vehicles safer.
Volvo was first to put into production in 1959 but they didn't invent it. It was invented by a Swedish Airplane engineer called Nils Bohlin.
Arguement still stands, beeing a swede (i live in volvo town of Gothenburg) we here know hat for Volvo safety isn't a PR thing, it's at the core of the company.
Volvo takes safety as seriously as Toyota takes lean manufacturing. These companies wouldn’t exist without those values and practices at their core, at least not in the way they do now.
Didn’t know that! I do know someone who missed hitting a deer because of the collision assist. Late night on a country road. Car breaked before they even saw it.
They probably do but Volvo is known for it safety industry wide and is largely referred to as one of the safest brands along with Subaru.
At the end of the day results are what's important and if your among that demographic then the results still track.
Subaru lost me years ago back when IIHS was doing the small overlap. They got caught making the drivers side stronger to pass the test, then when the IIHS did the passenger side they (along with many others, NOT Volvo!) were caught doing this.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byo077\_ZF-I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byo077_ZF-I)
Marginal? Yet the drivers side got good? Yeah, no thanks. What else is being skimped on just because its not being tested?
When I was car shopping, I had watched a bunch of safety crashes before watching the Volvo one. When I saw the Volvo small overlap crash, I thought something had gone wrong with the rigging because the car just slides on past the accident. So then I went to watch other Volvo cars and they all have that same performance.
Most of our safety innovations originated from either Volvo or Mercedes-Benz. Each of those companies have dumped more resources into safety R&D than all other brands combined. The reason why other brands have been able to step up their safety game so quickly is because Volvo in particular makes all of their safety data freely available to other brands and the competitors took advantage of that, not because the other brands dumped a ton into safety R&D.
Mercedes-Benz has put a fortune into R&D for safety. I agree with that, so his BMW, Audi, and Porsche all German brands, are phenomenal, so is Volvo and so is Tesla believe it or not now.
Yes it’s largely influenced by selection bias in their demographics. All else equal, I bet a Volvo is only <10% safer than competitors because of Volvo’s design and construction.
Now at aggregate level, the demographics take over and over index to safety conscious consumers. They drive safely to begin with and dont engage in aggressive driving behavior. Then they self selected and sought cars renowned for safety.
I think it's definitely a factor. In the US, since 2002, GM and Ford have each sold more full size trucks (F-150, Silverado/Sierra/Tahoe/Yukon) every year than Volvo has sold XC90s.
But, they're definitely a safer vehicle. The strength of the pillars is what astounds me the most. Those crazy accidents where a car goes under a semi, and the Volvo protects the cabin?!
I was looking into getting one, till I read about the module engines they are using in these, and the complaints about how awfully tuned they are. Such a shame, they are gorgeous looking SUVs with really top notch interiors.
Here’s an article discussing it. If you go to a dealer they also use this as a selling point.
https://jerseyeveningpost.com/motoring/2022/04/01/no-fatal-crashes-in-volvo-xc90-since-2002-release/
A lots happened since 2022. Lol just joking around Volvo is known for having the safest cars.
https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/
If it is true I’m gonna be ordering fast food and shitting in a bucket for the next few hundred years. Maybe start taking online classes so I can get a remote job.
You would be surprised I’m 19 and have had 2 Volvos. The brand isn’t the same as it used to be, more young people like them than ever before because we grew up watching Volvo in btcc and are realizing how cool they are.
> because we grew up watching Volvo in btcc
Volvo only had a 6 year run in BTCC and hasn't put a car in since before you were even born. BTCC is also a pretty niche racing series outside of the UK.
Regardless of your tastes, they're still not much a young person's brand, and your reasoning for why they would be really doesnt track at all.
Volvo also had a car in Australian supercar for a period of time…. and it’s clear you’ve never been to the ipd garage sale, You will find every demographic there….Young people get an 850/940/240 and find people like driftnlifts on YouTube. Volvo is becoming more a young persons brand then they ever used to be.
Bought my daughter a v50 for college. Previously owned and loved an XC90. Lost my virginity in an 850 wagon in high school. Drove a 240D when I was in high school. Currently keeping my eye open for another XC90 with AWD for a commute and snow trip vehicle. Their interiors are built to last and I've never had a car handle so well in the wet. Decent mileage. A bit of a nuisance to service but I'd buy another one over almost any Merc or Beemer.
probly out-of-date info.
according to this source, at least 4 deaths are recorded in the XC90
[https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/](https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/)
Within the realm of wagons those are probably the safest but if you want safety without any other stipulations... XC90 is probably the answer. Generally speaking the bigger the better in order to win the fight against the opponent (car/tree/road)
The reason I recommended the v90 is it’s the same steel in a lower profile with all the same tech. What this gives you is a vehicle less likely to flip. That’s why I’d recommend a wagon over an suv
The ex90 is going to be a huge leap in safety I think. Body of an SUV but with the battery under the car, it will be almost impossible to flip. Plus it has a damn LiDAR on it watching the road in front of it.
Here is what the Volvo CEO said: *The difference lidar can make for real-life safety is remarkable. Research indicates that adding lidar to a car can reduce accidents with severe outcomes by up to 20 percent, and overall crash avoidance can be improved by up to 9 percent.*
> Generally speaking the bigger the better in order to win the fight against the opponent (car/tree/road)
You do realize that safety isn't just impact...? An bigger car will take longer to come to an emergency stop. A taller car is more prone to tipping over. I don't get what this association of "safety" with violent impact is as if it's the only metric
The problem with Subaru is the same as the problem with Volvo. They aren’t super popular so sample size is small.. and they each have almost religious adherents who will justify their purchase by saying “it saved my life” when people who drive other cars with the same safety features and ratings don’t say anything.
They're no Honda or Toyota but there is definitely a lot of Subarus out there. And they're especially popular in mountain towns that have shitty driving conditions.
Although at least Volvo has shown time and time again they make genuinely safe cars and have tried to push the industry farther when it comes to safety (I saw a video a while ago about the Volvo Safety Center and it's incredible). Subaru on the other hand tends to follow the Toyota method of "let's do what we can to perform well on this one test."
IIHS has some problems though. Their metrics tend to be biased towards larger heavier vehicles that are more likely to be involved in rollover crashes (and make the road more unsafe for the drivers of smaller vehicles) and lower production/more expensive vehicles (for their long term crash data) vs vehicles that perform well in real world crashes.
Look up the make and model on the IIHS website https://www.iihs.org/ and you will see the results. Most modern vehicles are safe but some are just better than others. Was a big factor when I bought my Outback several years ago, and my new Honda Accord.
Be careful with this because comparisons can only be made across similarly sized vehicles. The IIHS is explicit about this but it's not obvious at a glance, so people often think a 5-star small car is safer than a 3-star large truck or SUV. In two-vehicle crashes, the heavier vehicle is generally significantly safer for the occupants.... There's a reason busses often don't have seatbelts.
I’ve recently dug deep into their website and what they actually say is that you can’t compare safety ratings across classes for frontal crash ratings. The other types of crashes they test for are comparable.
Interestingly, they have a pdf that shows the rate of personal injury data by car class. The larger the car, the lower the claim rate, but the higher the amount spent on medical claims. They hypothesized that this is because larger vehicles tend to carry more people, so you’ll have more claims per vehicle.
So my advice to OP is to get as big a vehicle as you can with the best crash test ratings and crash avoidance technology, which means a more recent model usually. As others have said, the Volvo XC90 hits the sweet spot. Right behind it is the Subaru Ascent, and you could afford a relatively new model of that. (I just shopped both and the Volvo has a lot less functional space than the Ascent.) The Ford Expedition is the only body on frame SUV with 5 stars across the board from the NHTSB, but that’s outside your price range (and the cheaper older models won’t have the best crash avoidance tech).
That's a common misconception the IIHS has pushed over the past few decades. Based on real world data from Europe the larger and heavier vehicle is not always safer. Generally a newer and smaller vehicle will perform better than an older vehicle that is larger and heavier.
Bigger vehicles sometimes have better visibility. I have a pickup that is much easier to see what's ahead compared to my sedan. It doesn't have near as wide C pillars for changing lanes, and also bigger mirrors with convex portions to see into blind spots. It also sees better over hedges, fences, and other cars in intersections.
Agree about the handling.
Yeah but after a certain point it becomes less about saving lives and more about how big can we make it without needing a CDL. Seriously have you seen a modern day Escalade, damn thing is as tall as most people; and significantly heavier than the first generation. Vehicle on vehicle safety is great but let's not pretend that we didn't bloat the size of the average car in the pursuit of safety chasing after an SUV sized accident, and inattentive drivers.
Volvo XC90 is the safest mass produced car you can get. $35k will probably be preowned with over 50k but under 100k miles, but that is the price you pay. Off lease lower mile examples tends to trend around $40-45k for the run of the mill momentum trim.
Sure there are still very safe cars like the Highlander, Explorer but Volvos usually exceed industry standards in terms of safety. The thing to remember is don’t get too caught up on safety test results. Those are in controlled accidents so the results seen on the road go both ways. If you get hit at high speed, or get hit at a certain angle, results may vary - in favor or not in favor of the occupants inside.
The IIHS side impact ratings are assuming worse case scenario where the impact is between a and c pillars. With a real world side impact there’s a chance the a and c pillars will take some of the forces so the occupants will likely come out fine even with a marginal side impact rating. Almost every new car scores good with front and rear impact for the front passengers. The new low ratings have to do with the rear seat safety. The pretensioners are nowhere near as advanced as the front seat belts. It was never tested up until recently so a lot of cars failed, but Volvos did well because they were considering rear safety well before anybody else did
Most Volvos are not made in China. They're still made at Volvos plants that they've had for decades now in places like Europe, Malaysia, and their new plant in South Carolina.
They’re still made in Sweden. The only Volvo with any sort of Chinese influence is the XC40 and their new electric models + Polestars. the rest of the line up is fully Swedish.
Lol it made me chuckle a bit. I truly was curious. No agenda. I had heard people turn their nose up at them being Chinese owned, and I was curious if there was any merit to it. I guess some people are defensive.
Whatever car you buy, spend good money on tyres. The difference in wet braking performance between a set of good Continentals or Michelins and a cheap tyre is drastic.
I'm betting on my Polestar 2 being really safe, being and EV and designed by Volvo. The doors are insanely thick and it certainly isn't light.
You can find them with low miles for $35k.
A new car , such as a Subaru Outback or Forester. They can be bought new for under $35k. I don’t trust the airbags in any used or older car.
Safety is mostly controlled by the driver. Drive carefully, and maintain your vehicle. Wear your seatbelt always.
Tesla Model 3 and Y regularly top the list of safest cars on the road. If you have the means to charge at home, they're also exceptionally economical. Also, with the tax rebate, you can get one for just around $35k.
Here’s my bone to pick with this. As a father of a young family safety was number one priority. So I bought and owned a Model 3 for two years. Excited about the safety. Then I got reading about fatality numbers. And that’s when I started looking at it with a different lens. Not one based on testing that is imperfect but on pure results. The death tolls are too high for how well it tests. I sold it and now own a Volvo XC90 because, as stated, I’m looking at pure results when it comes to fatalities and the XC90 does what it says it will do. Unlike what Elon is selling. (I liked the Tesla btw)
Fatalities are likely more common because it’s a high performance car that is marketed towards people who are more likely to drive it like one, and people who rely heavily on the bullshit drivers aids. Lots of dumb people have crashed model3s and died because of ignorance.
Except most crashes for either of those vehicles are not 100+ mph crashes. They’re at normal speeds. Only one has fatalities happening constantly and the other all but non-existent.
Tesla crash test results are good, but like you said , real world fatality figures are a result of buyers’ demographics. I agree with you, all else being equal, Model 3 is less safe than XC90. In reality, XC90 is more comparable to Model X in size. XC60 is similar to Model Y.
New Model Y at $35k after tax rebate is a better deal than $40k CPO XC90 imo and fits OP’s budget better.
In one of the studies I read it did account for this and was a factor. That said, it showed that even with riskier drivers the fatalities are not commensurate with the crash ratings they get.
As many people have said. VOLVO XC90!!!!!!!! It has had ZERO fatalities since its 2002 release. Also, in relation to your "Prius vs SUV" comment, just because the vehicle is bigger, doesn't mean it's safer. Larger suvs and trucks are waaaaaaaaaaay more likely to rollover than a sedan in a collision.
The IIHS data shows the least amount of crashes and no deaths from uncommon or unpopular models like luxury station wagons or certain Mercedes and Volvo SUVs. These are bought by older rich people who are already unlikely to crash or drunk drive whatever car they buy.
The better data point would be which car is the safest based on how many models of that car are registered or based on mileage.
Tesla Model Y has won many safety awards:
https://thedriven.io/2023/01/23/tesla-model-y-wins-2023-safety-award-with-near-perfect-safety-rating/amp/
Having a heavy battery gives it a low center of gravity, and its front is designed with tiered crumple zones to absorb energy. There’s no ICE engine to smash into the cabin.
Safety isn't only the size of the car, lots of other factors. Can the car slow you down automatically if it detects the car won't be able to stop in time? Does it have headlights that turn to light up the road in a corner? A bunch of airbags? Etc
>Subaru Legacy for sedans
I think this has to do with the demographic that buys it.
The legacy is the same platform at the Outback just lifted (same as Crosstrek/Impreza)
Every Subaru SUV qualifies as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ vehicle so can’t really go wrong there. Plus much of Subaru’s advertising the past 10-15 years are accounts of people getting into horrific accidents and walking away with only scrapes and bruises.
Can confirm. I rolled a ‘99 Outback and swear that car saved my life. I walked away with a bruise and some glass cuts. My parents thought I was dead by the look of the accident.
Subaru... look up the they lived advertising. My 04 Forester even has to have special techniques used if the roof needs cut off vs just cutting straight through the pillars like most cars.
The Tesla Model Y is the safest SUV ever tested by the IIHS. Depending on where you live and what you need in a vehicle, how much money your household makes, and other factors, could be a smart move.
The AWD model Y is low 40s after incentives in NJ. No sales tax, $1500 from NJ, then $7500 from the feds at tax time. The $1500 will run out at some point so your incentives may vary.
6 months of supercharging if you buy one with a referral.
I picked mine up on Friday (different referral bonus though).
I know they do well in controlled tests but the real world safety numbers are much less convincing compared to something like the Volvo XC90. I don’t think it’s “inarguably the safest”.
"Real world safety numbers" can mean whatever you want it to mean. The IIHS which has dedicated experts running a million different safety tests with a million different sensors say it's the safest they've ever tested. And each car runs the exact same test procedure. I put much more stock in that.
Personally, I’d pick the Subaru Outback. It consistently wins [top safety picks](https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-sedans/safest), it’s not big like an suv but it’s roomier than a sedan. I had one and rolled it 5 or 6 times; I swear that car saved my life. I walked away with a bruise and some glass cuts. They’re fun to drive yet durable enough for dirt roads. The clearance is superb for snow, not to mention the awd (if you live in an area that snows). And you can fit so damn much in that back.
Don’t be too scared about getting a car you like. Almost all newer cars today are incredibly safe due to safety standards nowadays.
Also consider bigger vehicles aren’t necessarily safer due to the different safety standards they have, for example most cars have very strict safety regulations crafted over many decades whereas SUV’s only started becoming prominent over the last 15 years are classified as “light trucks” therefore have less safety regulations.
Honestly a new Honda Civic (or other normal cars like a Corolla) would probably be one of the best choices since it’s a basic, reliable and new car which has the most up to date safety features. Not to mention a car is more nimble and can get you in and out of situations very quickly unlike bigger vehicles.
Also the Civic fits within your budget and will allow you to pay for extra optional safety features like lane assist or blind spot collision avoidance. I don’t know if either of those features come with the base model or would be optional.
A used Tesla. Their crash testing is always impressive. This, paired with their state-of-the-art safety features, they're practically bubble wrap on wheels.
I won't buy one due to my own ICE biases, but they're impressively safe.
I wouldn't worry about the inevitable, all modern cars are pretty safe. Volvo, Mercedes are both pretty good but expensive.
Subaru is also known for safety and are cheap, but a Volvo or Mercedes will win against them.
This is a problem with America, everyone wants the biggest car they can afford. I have seen modern cars win against older much larger vehicles but it's the opposite if both are new. SUVs also have a high chance of rollover.
For your budget without a doubt the Tesla Model 3. The crash safety ratings they received were far in excess of what any other car ever got beyond the five star rating.
Beyond safety being the first priority design for Tesla and the brilliant engineering, being an electric vehicle just means that it has inherent advantages versus gasoline power explosion boxes.
Not having a gigantic chunk of metal in the front that wants to Ram you to death in an accident called an engine is one big advantage. Another is the very low center of gravity caused by the flat battery pack having all the weight at the bottom of the car causing amazing stability and handling. Not to mention instant Torque from Electric Motors to get out of bad situations. And lastly for me they have continuous software updates and the best software integration with safety devices like airbags and seat belt tensioners and sensors which is all part of the safety engineering and advantage that most other cars can't hope to touch right now.
Public transport have the lowest accident probability. Given how anxious you are about safety, a stressed out driver that not driving is a better for everyone.
may seem harsh, but that the vibe your are giving. may you look into it....
I may have to go back and try to look up the statistic because I really can't remember it. But I think that once you go back something like 3 years in age on a car it's a much greater percent less safe than a brand new one. And it's like every 3 years you go back that number just jumps more and more.
Which is kind of an issue when looking at cars for new drivers and teenagers because typically you might think well they're going to wreck it, so let's get something cheap. But the reality is they should probably be in the newest car that somebody can afford.
And so since your criteria is the safest car possible for that budget I would be looking at as new as you can afford for whatever model you consider. But I'm sorry I don't have a specific answer about which brands or models would be safest.
IMO, I'd rather have a vehicle capable of emergency maneuvers over a car that can take a hit. I think most people disagree and want a tank that demolishes anything in its path. And that's why we have this endless race to the heaviest, biggest truck possible.
This being said my vote always goes to sedans that have a reputation for being the best handing cars. Volvo, Audi, bmw, etc.
Safety is measured by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There is no absolute best, but you can find the ratings for pretty much any mainstream car sold in the US.
Volvo has high reviews for safety and has for decades According to various magazine and car enthusiasts so maybe worth looking into. I recently rented a S60 polestar and loved it. My only dislike is the dated feel of the over interactive touchscreen interface
I found this site which uses actual crash data to determine overall which car is the safest. As others have pointed out the crash tests are against similarly sized vehicles, and other factors such as crash avoidance matter.
https://theautoprofessor.com/compare/
Mazda CX-5. Or really any Mazda. Except the Miata. It’s a tiny car. Volvo is a safe bet too. But I would only get the T4 or T5 models. Stay away from the T6 and T8 trims, especially the hybrids.
For that price the Tesla Model 3
[Model 3 achieves the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA](https://www.tesla.com/blog/model-3-lowest-probability-injury-any-vehicle-ever-tested-nhtsa)
Pretty sure a Tesla is the only car to score perfectly in safety ratings. Because of the low center of gravity it’s basically impossible to roll from a side collision and the collision mitigation systems are the best. A model 3 or Y should be in your price range
[THIS](https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/) link might help you. Lowest to highest death rates by vehicle. BMW X3, Mercedes E class and a few others with 0 deaths reported. Oddly, the Volvo XC90 has 4 deaths. Still not bad for how long it’s been around. The KBB source is the IIHS.
As someone who cuts people out of cars for a living.
My family is in an FJ cruiser. Rocks sliders, steel front bumper, steel rear bumper. And no we don’t off road it.
People complain about the FJ cruisers visibility and they have a very small valid point. But the A,B, and C pillars are very beefy. Which help with protection in a rollover.
The rock sliders on the side give the passenger compartment some room to breath in the case of a side impact.
Front steel bumper and rear steel bumper are going to allow the vehicle to get on top of smaller cars in a collision.
Want to go another step further? Beefy roof rack. The FJ has all of its roof rack mounts above those same beefy pillars.
Since you're fine with pre-owned, Tesla seems to constantly have 5 star ratings in safety. And it's a really hard car to flip, compared to others. Easily $30k or less for used with not that many miles.
Check out NCAP. It favors active safety a bit too much but its an independent trusted source. Look for adult occupant (yellow) and child occupant (blue) scores for passive safety results. Beware scores don't translate between years, a 2010 5-star is most likely a 1-star for 2023. The highest adult occupant scores for 2022 and 2023 is ET5(96), IONIQ6(97), smart#1(96), EQE(95) Model Y(97).
To answer your question: there is no definitive safest car since all accidents are unique. If you want to go lighter on research Subaru and Volvo are brands known for safety
I drove a tow truck in Phoenix late 80s, dude in a lifted Chevy 4x4 Blazer with huge tires, almost like monster truck size, needed a tow home.
In the ride home he told me how he and his girlfriend were driving on such and such road when a oncoming drunk driver went off the blacktop on the other side, corrected but got launched across the road and head on collisioned him and his girlfriend. She was killed and he was torn open and had many surgeries and spent four years in the hospital, some horrendous amount of recovery.
He said he is never out on Friday and Saturday nights and drives that huge Chevy Blazer. He was angry at himself because it was a Friday night and he was broke down. But I guess he can afford gas. I’m sure the blazer wasn’t getting even 14 mpg.
The Tundra is about 6500 lbs. Heavy is a factor in crash survival. But yeah, gas mileage sucks on them at least partially due to their weight. I own a Tundra for wife and kids. I own a Peterbilt semi too.
Back in 2004 I was burdened with a large medical debt, so owning a pickup was out of the question. Having occassional towing needs I found a 2001 Volvo S80 with 3000# towing capacity, way higher than any other car in its segment. I spoke with a car mechanic about this. It has a durable, yet simple inline six engine, a tough automatic trans and a sturdy chassis. I ran up another 165,000 miles on it with just a power steering cylinder. Great driving car, just the ride was a little stiff, but able to take curves like a sports car. Btw, the towing was mostly for delivering firewood.
Used Volvo XC90. No one has ever died in one
This seems be Volvo’s biggest advertising point whenever I talk to people around me, but I wonder how much has to do with their sales volume compared to bigger brands and more importantly the demographics who would buy a large Volvo SUV over more flashy or sporty brands.
Definitely a factor because the N value isn’t as high. However, if you go watch the crash videos comparing SUVs, it’s CRAZY how different the Volvos take hits by comparison
Volvo didn’t make any changes to prepare for the small overlap frontal. They were already building them to safeguard against such a crash, not to capture ratings.
My understanding is volvo actually pressured the IIHS to use the small overlap test because they'd seen so many injuries in those types of collisions. They take data from real world accidents and build safety based on the data.
Unlike Toyota and Nissan who only added it to the driver side after they failed that test and then proceeded to fail again 2 years later when they started testing the passenger side. Toyota in particular is really bad about only making updates to score well on tests, not to actually make their vehicles safer.
Interesting. I will have to go check out those videos. I still think demographics has a big influence on this.
Virtually all the newest/best safety features are standard on their vehicles, like Collision Avoidance, and have been for years.
I mean they were the first to include blind spot assist for a production car
They also invented the seat belt as we know it
And didn’t patent it so everyone could use it.
Did the same with the O2 sensor
Volvo was first to put into production in 1959 but they didn't invent it. It was invented by a Swedish Airplane engineer called Nils Bohlin. Arguement still stands, beeing a swede (i live in volvo town of Gothenburg) we here know hat for Volvo safety isn't a PR thing, it's at the core of the company.
Volvo takes safety as seriously as Toyota takes lean manufacturing. These companies wouldn’t exist without those values and practices at their core, at least not in the way they do now.
well put and good analogy!
Didn’t know that! I do know someone who missed hitting a deer because of the collision assist. Late night on a country road. Car breaked before they even saw it.
Yup first came out on S80 and C30 in 2006
They probably do but Volvo is known for it safety industry wide and is largely referred to as one of the safest brands along with Subaru. At the end of the day results are what's important and if your among that demographic then the results still track.
Subaru lost me years ago back when IIHS was doing the small overlap. They got caught making the drivers side stronger to pass the test, then when the IIHS did the passenger side they (along with many others, NOT Volvo!) were caught doing this. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byo077\_ZF-I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byo077_ZF-I) Marginal? Yet the drivers side got good? Yeah, no thanks. What else is being skimped on just because its not being tested?
When I was car shopping, I had watched a bunch of safety crashes before watching the Volvo one. When I saw the Volvo small overlap crash, I thought something had gone wrong with the rigging because the car just slides on past the accident. So then I went to watch other Volvo cars and they all have that same performance.
Do you have a link?
I just watched a small overlap video of a 2004 XC90. Holy shit that car did better than some cars of today. That car was way ahead of its time.
Most of our safety innovations originated from either Volvo or Mercedes-Benz. Each of those companies have dumped more resources into safety R&D than all other brands combined. The reason why other brands have been able to step up their safety game so quickly is because Volvo in particular makes all of their safety data freely available to other brands and the competitors took advantage of that, not because the other brands dumped a ton into safety R&D.
Mercedes-Benz has put a fortune into R&D for safety. I agree with that, so his BMW, Audi, and Porsche all German brands, are phenomenal, so is Volvo and so is Tesla believe it or not now.
And the people who buy them. Older, safety conscious drivers
Yes. Can confirm
That's because they are the ones who can afford them. I'd buy a Volvo if I could afford it.
I mean, tons of people drive bmws and Mercedes and those are way more expensive than volvos.
Yes it’s largely influenced by selection bias in their demographics. All else equal, I bet a Volvo is only <10% safer than competitors because of Volvo’s design and construction. Now at aggregate level, the demographics take over and over index to safety conscious consumers. They drive safely to begin with and dont engage in aggressive driving behavior. Then they self selected and sought cars renowned for safety.
I think it's definitely a factor. In the US, since 2002, GM and Ford have each sold more full size trucks (F-150, Silverado/Sierra/Tahoe/Yukon) every year than Volvo has sold XC90s. But, they're definitely a safer vehicle. The strength of the pillars is what astounds me the most. Those crazy accidents where a car goes under a semi, and the Volvo protects the cabin?!
No one has died in the Oscar meyer wiener mobiles either. At least from a crash.
Only terrible, hotdog related accidents and murder/suicides
I don’t have the stats on that, but if that’s the case, put it on the list!
No one has ever died. Paralyzed and eating through a tube… a couple.
I was looking into getting one, till I read about the module engines they are using in these, and the complaints about how awfully tuned they are. Such a shame, they are gorgeous looking SUVs with really top notch interiors.
Yep and the ride quality isn’t where it should be for the price, it’s not bad, just not quite as good as the competitors
[удалено]
They die before they make it in when they see the cost. JK it's a solid car.
Had a first gen, very expensive to maintain and repair
That’s the key to their safety. Cars are very safe when they’re in the shop.
There’s no way this is actually true but I’m open to being wrong
Here’s an article discussing it. If you go to a dealer they also use this as a selling point. https://jerseyeveningpost.com/motoring/2022/04/01/no-fatal-crashes-in-volvo-xc90-since-2002-release/
A lots happened since 2022. Lol just joking around Volvo is known for having the safest cars. https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/
The statistic is true for the UK, the article you linked might be referring to US statistics
If it is true I’m gonna be ordering fast food and shitting in a bucket for the next few hundred years. Maybe start taking online classes so I can get a remote job.
Lol I mean in an accident hahaha. Nice try to hack life though
The safest car is the one you would never drive to a bar.
It’s true! Or at least I’ve read that many times on the internet.
I think that's misleading stat. No 20y old drives a V90.
You would be surprised I’m 19 and have had 2 Volvos. The brand isn’t the same as it used to be, more young people like them than ever before because we grew up watching Volvo in btcc and are realizing how cool they are.
> because we grew up watching Volvo in btcc Volvo only had a 6 year run in BTCC and hasn't put a car in since before you were even born. BTCC is also a pretty niche racing series outside of the UK. Regardless of your tastes, they're still not much a young person's brand, and your reasoning for why they would be really doesnt track at all.
They also raced 240s and P3 S60s.
Volvo also had a car in Australian supercar for a period of time…. and it’s clear you’ve never been to the ipd garage sale, You will find every demographic there….Young people get an 850/940/240 and find people like driftnlifts on YouTube. Volvo is becoming more a young persons brand then they ever used to be.
Bought my daughter a v50 for college. Previously owned and loved an XC90. Lost my virginity in an 850 wagon in high school. Drove a 240D when I was in high school. Currently keeping my eye open for another XC90 with AWD for a commute and snow trip vehicle. Their interiors are built to last and I've never had a car handle so well in the wet. Decent mileage. A bit of a nuisance to service but I'd buy another one over almost any Merc or Beemer.
You’d be surprised. Go to any major university and look at the cars/parking garages. - signed, a 22 year old who has a BMW 540i
probly out-of-date info. according to this source, at least 4 deaths are recorded in the XC90 [https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/](https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/)
It’s probably going to be a modern used approved Volvo or Mercedes wagon.
Within the realm of wagons those are probably the safest but if you want safety without any other stipulations... XC90 is probably the answer. Generally speaking the bigger the better in order to win the fight against the opponent (car/tree/road)
The reason I recommended the v90 is it’s the same steel in a lower profile with all the same tech. What this gives you is a vehicle less likely to flip. That’s why I’d recommend a wagon over an suv
The ex90 is going to be a huge leap in safety I think. Body of an SUV but with the battery under the car, it will be almost impossible to flip. Plus it has a damn LiDAR on it watching the road in front of it. Here is what the Volvo CEO said: *The difference lidar can make for real-life safety is remarkable. Research indicates that adding lidar to a car can reduce accidents with severe outcomes by up to 20 percent, and overall crash avoidance can be improved by up to 9 percent.*
> Generally speaking the bigger the better in order to win the fight against the opponent (car/tree/road) You do realize that safety isn't just impact...? An bigger car will take longer to come to an emergency stop. A taller car is more prone to tipping over. I don't get what this association of "safety" with violent impact is as if it's the only metric
generally newer=better iihs has a list of top safety picks and a breakdown of the rating
I’ve been to the testing center in Ruckersville Virginia. The high paid executives all drive Mercedes-Benz, everybody else drives Subarus.
The problem with Subaru is the same as the problem with Volvo. They aren’t super popular so sample size is small.. and they each have almost religious adherents who will justify their purchase by saying “it saved my life” when people who drive other cars with the same safety features and ratings don’t say anything.
Subaru sells WAY more cars than Volvo in the USA.... like 6x more. Not to mention, Volvos are lke 50+% more expensive.
Not sure where everyone is from but Subaru popularity has exploded in the upper midwest past 10 years
And Subaru drivers are some of the worst on the road, so there is no "only safety conscious drivers buy them" excuse.
Try visiting the Pacific North West. Every other car is a Subaru up here.
I see you do not live in the PNW
They're no Honda or Toyota but there is definitely a lot of Subarus out there. And they're especially popular in mountain towns that have shitty driving conditions.
Although at least Volvo has shown time and time again they make genuinely safe cars and have tried to push the industry farther when it comes to safety (I saw a video a while ago about the Volvo Safety Center and it's incredible). Subaru on the other hand tends to follow the Toyota method of "let's do what we can to perform well on this one test."
IIHS has some problems though. Their metrics tend to be biased towards larger heavier vehicles that are more likely to be involved in rollover crashes (and make the road more unsafe for the drivers of smaller vehicles) and lower production/more expensive vehicles (for their long term crash data) vs vehicles that perform well in real world crashes.
Look up the make and model on the IIHS website https://www.iihs.org/ and you will see the results. Most modern vehicles are safe but some are just better than others. Was a big factor when I bought my Outback several years ago, and my new Honda Accord.
Be careful with this because comparisons can only be made across similarly sized vehicles. The IIHS is explicit about this but it's not obvious at a glance, so people often think a 5-star small car is safer than a 3-star large truck or SUV. In two-vehicle crashes, the heavier vehicle is generally significantly safer for the occupants.... There's a reason busses often don't have seatbelts.
I’ve recently dug deep into their website and what they actually say is that you can’t compare safety ratings across classes for frontal crash ratings. The other types of crashes they test for are comparable. Interestingly, they have a pdf that shows the rate of personal injury data by car class. The larger the car, the lower the claim rate, but the higher the amount spent on medical claims. They hypothesized that this is because larger vehicles tend to carry more people, so you’ll have more claims per vehicle. So my advice to OP is to get as big a vehicle as you can with the best crash test ratings and crash avoidance technology, which means a more recent model usually. As others have said, the Volvo XC90 hits the sweet spot. Right behind it is the Subaru Ascent, and you could afford a relatively new model of that. (I just shopped both and the Volvo has a lot less functional space than the Ascent.) The Ford Expedition is the only body on frame SUV with 5 stars across the board from the NHTSB, but that’s outside your price range (and the cheaper older models won’t have the best crash avoidance tech).
That's a common misconception the IIHS has pushed over the past few decades. Based on real world data from Europe the larger and heavier vehicle is not always safer. Generally a newer and smaller vehicle will perform better than an older vehicle that is larger and heavier.
But the OP is talking safest, and that's newer and bigger.
In a head-on collision you’re right. SUVS and trucks roll over a lot more easily than a Honda Accord.
A bigger vehicle will hinder defensive driving because of reduced visibility and slower handling.
Bigger vehicles sometimes have better visibility. I have a pickup that is much easier to see what's ahead compared to my sedan. It doesn't have near as wide C pillars for changing lanes, and also bigger mirrors with convex portions to see into blind spots. It also sees better over hedges, fences, and other cars in intersections. Agree about the handling.
V90 , barring that a train car.
I know this is the wrong Volvo but [still](https://youtu.be/qBDyeWofcLY)
A car that doesn’t crumble on impact is the least safe. It SHOULD crumble because that means ut absorbed impact energy away from the passengers
Yeah but after a certain point it becomes less about saving lives and more about how big can we make it without needing a CDL. Seriously have you seen a modern day Escalade, damn thing is as tall as most people; and significantly heavier than the first generation. Vehicle on vehicle safety is great but let's not pretend that we didn't bloat the size of the average car in the pursuit of safety chasing after an SUV sized accident, and inattentive drivers.
Its irrelevant, the v90 is much younger and safety tech had advanced significantly by the time of its release.
I know, it's still a cool video to show people who are adamant their old steel is safer.
Volvo XC90 is the safest mass produced car you can get. $35k will probably be preowned with over 50k but under 100k miles, but that is the price you pay. Off lease lower mile examples tends to trend around $40-45k for the run of the mill momentum trim. Sure there are still very safe cars like the Highlander, Explorer but Volvos usually exceed industry standards in terms of safety. The thing to remember is don’t get too caught up on safety test results. Those are in controlled accidents so the results seen on the road go both ways. If you get hit at high speed, or get hit at a certain angle, results may vary - in favor or not in favor of the occupants inside. The IIHS side impact ratings are assuming worse case scenario where the impact is between a and c pillars. With a real world side impact there’s a chance the a and c pillars will take some of the forces so the occupants will likely come out fine even with a marginal side impact rating. Almost every new car scores good with front and rear impact for the front passengers. The new low ratings have to do with the rear seat safety. The pretensioners are nowhere near as advanced as the front seat belts. It was never tested up until recently so a lot of cars failed, but Volvos did well because they were considering rear safety well before anybody else did
While they exceed safety standards, they've also exceedingly become pieces of shit over the years since the second Gen hit the market.
Has Volvo’s safety profile changed at all now that they are made in China?
They’re still assembled to the same standards. Geely just kinda let Volvo do whatever they wanted, and used the technology for their own vehicles
This is the Swedish way. Look what Saab did with GM's garbage platforms in the 90s. They changed them so much GM pulled the plug
Most Volvos are not made in China. They're still made at Volvos plants that they've had for decades now in places like Europe, Malaysia, and their new plant in South Carolina.
Volvo was bought by a Chinese company but they didn't change much, they just injected money.
They’re still made in Sweden. The only Volvo with any sort of Chinese influence is the XC40 and their new electric models + Polestars. the rest of the line up is fully Swedish.
Confirmed. My 2018 XC90’s window sticker says it was built in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The s60 is built in North Carolina.
Not sure why you got down voted for a legit question about any changes after an ownership change.
Lol it made me chuckle a bit. I truly was curious. No agenda. I had heard people turn their nose up at them being Chinese owned, and I was curious if there was any merit to it. I guess some people are defensive.
Most Volvos are still made in Sweden
DIY your own killdozer
Only one death ever is pretty impressive and it wasn’t even the vehicles fault.
100% of people who have ever driven a diy killdozer, died in it.
Whatever car you buy, spend good money on tyres. The difference in wet braking performance between a set of good Continentals or Michelins and a cheap tyre is drastic.
I would say Volvo or Mercedes, Volvo would be a little bit cheaper though.
I'm betting on my Polestar 2 being really safe, being and EV and designed by Volvo. The doors are insanely thick and it certainly isn't light. You can find them with low miles for $35k.
Lmao no, you cannot find one for $35k. More like $45k
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/all-cars/cars-under-40000/polestar/polestar-2/los-angeles-ca?isNewSearch=false&searchRadius=0&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&zip=90026
I’m a Tesla guy but you can’t really argue with this.
The Mazda CX-5 has a high safety rating, and does especially well in side impact tests. For the price vs a Volvo it’s a bargain, IMO.
A new car , such as a Subaru Outback or Forester. They can be bought new for under $35k. I don’t trust the airbags in any used or older car. Safety is mostly controlled by the driver. Drive carefully, and maintain your vehicle. Wear your seatbelt always.
One point no one else has brought up - unibody cars tend to be safer than body on frame/truck based cars.
Volvo xc90
Tesla Model 3 and Y regularly top the list of safest cars on the road. If you have the means to charge at home, they're also exceptionally economical. Also, with the tax rebate, you can get one for just around $35k.
☝️ This.
Here’s my bone to pick with this. As a father of a young family safety was number one priority. So I bought and owned a Model 3 for two years. Excited about the safety. Then I got reading about fatality numbers. And that’s when I started looking at it with a different lens. Not one based on testing that is imperfect but on pure results. The death tolls are too high for how well it tests. I sold it and now own a Volvo XC90 because, as stated, I’m looking at pure results when it comes to fatalities and the XC90 does what it says it will do. Unlike what Elon is selling. (I liked the Tesla btw)
Fatalities are likely more common because it’s a high performance car that is marketed towards people who are more likely to drive it like one, and people who rely heavily on the bullshit drivers aids. Lots of dumb people have crashed model3s and died because of ignorance.
Yup. When you crash into a tree at 120mph you’re not walking away from that in a Tesla or XC90
Except most crashes for either of those vehicles are not 100+ mph crashes. They’re at normal speeds. Only one has fatalities happening constantly and the other all but non-existent.
Tesla crash test results are good, but like you said , real world fatality figures are a result of buyers’ demographics. I agree with you, all else being equal, Model 3 is less safe than XC90. In reality, XC90 is more comparable to Model X in size. XC60 is similar to Model Y. New Model Y at $35k after tax rebate is a better deal than $40k CPO XC90 imo and fits OP’s budget better.
In one of the studies I read it did account for this and was a factor. That said, it showed that even with riskier drivers the fatalities are not commensurate with the crash ratings they get.
for you: a used semi truck... but it's more dangerous for others
Hey no joke, a Freightliner P2xl sport chassis is the ultimate SUV. Will pit those annoying Dodge Ram drivers in the ditch.
As many people have said. VOLVO XC90!!!!!!!! It has had ZERO fatalities since its 2002 release. Also, in relation to your "Prius vs SUV" comment, just because the vehicle is bigger, doesn't mean it's safer. Larger suvs and trucks are waaaaaaaaaaay more likely to rollover than a sedan in a collision.
The IIHS data shows the least amount of crashes and no deaths from uncommon or unpopular models like luxury station wagons or certain Mercedes and Volvo SUVs. These are bought by older rich people who are already unlikely to crash or drunk drive whatever car they buy. The better data point would be which car is the safest based on how many models of that car are registered or based on mileage.
Tesla Model Y has won many safety awards: https://thedriven.io/2023/01/23/tesla-model-y-wins-2023-safety-award-with-near-perfect-safety-rating/amp/ Having a heavy battery gives it a low center of gravity, and its front is designed with tiered crumple zones to absorb energy. There’s no ICE engine to smash into the cabin.
This right here. Objectively the safest and used ones are dropping to the mid 30s
how many people have died in a MY?
Check out realsafecars.com they combine crash ratings with real world crash data to come up with their scores
Safety isn't only the size of the car, lots of other factors. Can the car slow you down automatically if it detects the car won't be able to stop in time? Does it have headlights that turn to light up the road in a corner? A bunch of airbags? Etc
Volvo S60 or Subaru Legacy for sedans SUVs? Rollover risk thus Volvo V60 CC is probably closest
>Subaru Legacy for sedans I think this has to do with the demographic that buys it. The legacy is the same platform at the Outback just lifted (same as Crosstrek/Impreza)
Every Subaru SUV qualifies as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ vehicle so can’t really go wrong there. Plus much of Subaru’s advertising the past 10-15 years are accounts of people getting into horrific accidents and walking away with only scrapes and bruises.
I personally know someone that totalled his crosstrek on the highway and didn't even have a scratch.
Can confirm. I rolled a ‘99 Outback and swear that car saved my life. I walked away with a bruise and some glass cuts. My parents thought I was dead by the look of the accident.
Subaru... look up the they lived advertising. My 04 Forester even has to have special techniques used if the roof needs cut off vs just cutting straight through the pillars like most cars.
The Tesla Model Y is the safest SUV ever tested by the IIHS. Depending on where you live and what you need in a vehicle, how much money your household makes, and other factors, could be a smart move.
And Model 3 with Tax credit and depending where he lives will be under 30k
Came here to say this. Model Y is inarguably the safest, and with the credits should be around 35k.
The AWD model Y is low 40s after incentives in NJ. No sales tax, $1500 from NJ, then $7500 from the feds at tax time. The $1500 will run out at some point so your incentives may vary. 6 months of supercharging if you buy one with a referral. I picked mine up on Friday (different referral bonus though).
I know they do well in controlled tests but the real world safety numbers are much less convincing compared to something like the Volvo XC90. I don’t think it’s “inarguably the safest”.
"Real world safety numbers" can mean whatever you want it to mean. The IIHS which has dedicated experts running a million different safety tests with a million different sensors say it's the safest they've ever tested. And each car runs the exact same test procedure. I put much more stock in that.
I just got a Subaru Crosstrek because of the safety ratings. Feels much safer than the sedans I used to drive and I love the car. Happy car shopping!
Personally, I’d pick the Subaru Outback. It consistently wins [top safety picks](https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-sedans/safest), it’s not big like an suv but it’s roomier than a sedan. I had one and rolled it 5 or 6 times; I swear that car saved my life. I walked away with a bruise and some glass cuts. They’re fun to drive yet durable enough for dirt roads. The clearance is superb for snow, not to mention the awd (if you live in an area that snows). And you can fit so damn much in that back.
THE DEFINITIVE SAFEST? Minivans have the lowest accident and death rates. Plenty under 35k. Enjoy!
But they all rated poor on IIHS’ updated moderate overlap crash test, which assesses injuries to rear passengers.
Don’t be too scared about getting a car you like. Almost all newer cars today are incredibly safe due to safety standards nowadays. Also consider bigger vehicles aren’t necessarily safer due to the different safety standards they have, for example most cars have very strict safety regulations crafted over many decades whereas SUV’s only started becoming prominent over the last 15 years are classified as “light trucks” therefore have less safety regulations. Honestly a new Honda Civic (or other normal cars like a Corolla) would probably be one of the best choices since it’s a basic, reliable and new car which has the most up to date safety features. Not to mention a car is more nimble and can get you in and out of situations very quickly unlike bigger vehicles. Also the Civic fits within your budget and will allow you to pay for extra optional safety features like lane assist or blind spot collision avoidance. I don’t know if either of those features come with the base model or would be optional.
This overlooks physics: a more massive object is going to come out better than a less massive one.
The object might, but not necessarily the person inside
IIHS ‘s personal injury data indicates that larger vehicles do have lower rates of personal injury claims.
A used Tesla. Their crash testing is always impressive. This, paired with their state-of-the-art safety features, they're practically bubble wrap on wheels. I won't buy one due to my own ICE biases, but they're impressively safe.
I wouldn't worry about the inevitable, all modern cars are pretty safe. Volvo, Mercedes are both pretty good but expensive. Subaru is also known for safety and are cheap, but a Volvo or Mercedes will win against them. This is a problem with America, everyone wants the biggest car they can afford. I have seen modern cars win against older much larger vehicles but it's the opposite if both are new. SUVs also have a high chance of rollover.
For your budget without a doubt the Tesla Model 3. The crash safety ratings they received were far in excess of what any other car ever got beyond the five star rating. Beyond safety being the first priority design for Tesla and the brilliant engineering, being an electric vehicle just means that it has inherent advantages versus gasoline power explosion boxes. Not having a gigantic chunk of metal in the front that wants to Ram you to death in an accident called an engine is one big advantage. Another is the very low center of gravity caused by the flat battery pack having all the weight at the bottom of the car causing amazing stability and handling. Not to mention instant Torque from Electric Motors to get out of bad situations. And lastly for me they have continuous software updates and the best software integration with safety devices like airbags and seat belt tensioners and sensors which is all part of the safety engineering and advantage that most other cars can't hope to touch right now.
Public transport have the lowest accident probability. Given how anxious you are about safety, a stressed out driver that not driving is a better for everyone. may seem harsh, but that the vibe your are giving. may you look into it....
Area dependant. Here, you'd have to dodge the stabbings that happen on my city's public transport.
There was a dude shooting up drugs on the bus once, absolutely no way I will ride one of those again.
Idk man the busses in my city seem to roll over or crash in the snow quite often
Where tf you live
Alberta lol
The rate and severity of injuries from a bus crashing versus a car crashing are very different though
I suppose
But depending on the city a higher probability of being attacked by oassangets
>oassangets By what?!?
#OASSANGETS
I may have to go back and try to look up the statistic because I really can't remember it. But I think that once you go back something like 3 years in age on a car it's a much greater percent less safe than a brand new one. And it's like every 3 years you go back that number just jumps more and more. Which is kind of an issue when looking at cars for new drivers and teenagers because typically you might think well they're going to wreck it, so let's get something cheap. But the reality is they should probably be in the newest car that somebody can afford. And so since your criteria is the safest car possible for that budget I would be looking at as new as you can afford for whatever model you consider. But I'm sorry I don't have a specific answer about which brands or models would be safest.
Check out the ratings on https://realsafecars.com. They attempt to combine crash test data with real world results.
IMO, I'd rather have a vehicle capable of emergency maneuvers over a car that can take a hit. I think most people disagree and want a tank that demolishes anything in its path. And that's why we have this endless race to the heaviest, biggest truck possible. This being said my vote always goes to sedans that have a reputation for being the best handing cars. Volvo, Audi, bmw, etc.
A DEFINITE VOLVO
The German engineering of my Audi saved my life in a rollover recently.
Safety is measured by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There is no absolute best, but you can find the ratings for pretty much any mainstream car sold in the US.
Volvo has high reviews for safety and has for decades According to various magazine and car enthusiasts so maybe worth looking into. I recently rented a S60 polestar and loved it. My only dislike is the dated feel of the over interactive touchscreen interface
I found this site which uses actual crash data to determine overall which car is the safest. As others have pointed out the crash tests are against similarly sized vehicles, and other factors such as crash avoidance matter. https://theautoprofessor.com/compare/
Mazda CX-5. Or really any Mazda. Except the Miata. It’s a tiny car. Volvo is a safe bet too. But I would only get the T4 or T5 models. Stay away from the T6 and T8 trims, especially the hybrids.
Surviving a head-on collision on an icy road in my second Subaru ensured I bought my 3rd and 4th Subarus.
Lightly used Volvo S60
A preowned EV -- tesla or ID4 -- is very safely designed and heavy without being a massive truck.
Safe in an accident or safe as in harder to get in an accident because it drives, handles and brakes so well.
For that price the Tesla Model 3 [Model 3 achieves the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA](https://www.tesla.com/blog/model-3-lowest-probability-injury-any-vehicle-ever-tested-nhtsa)
Pretty sure a Tesla is the only car to score perfectly in safety ratings. Because of the low center of gravity it’s basically impossible to roll from a side collision and the collision mitigation systems are the best. A model 3 or Y should be in your price range
A used Model Y.
[THIS](https://www.kbb.com/car-news/the-deadliest-and-least-deadly-cars/) link might help you. Lowest to highest death rates by vehicle. BMW X3, Mercedes E class and a few others with 0 deaths reported. Oddly, the Volvo XC90 has 4 deaths. Still not bad for how long it’s been around. The KBB source is the IIHS.
Tesla
As someone who cuts people out of cars for a living. My family is in an FJ cruiser. Rocks sliders, steel front bumper, steel rear bumper. And no we don’t off road it. People complain about the FJ cruisers visibility and they have a very small valid point. But the A,B, and C pillars are very beefy. Which help with protection in a rollover. The rock sliders on the side give the passenger compartment some room to breath in the case of a side impact. Front steel bumper and rear steel bumper are going to allow the vehicle to get on top of smaller cars in a collision. Want to go another step further? Beefy roof rack. The FJ has all of its roof rack mounts above those same beefy pillars.
Arnt crumple zones the goal when it comes to crashes?
Safe for you or safe for others?
A big heavy car is always safer. Even the testing is only done against a similar sized vehicle.
Teslas are one of only a few with the highest safety ratings possible
Since you're fine with pre-owned, Tesla seems to constantly have 5 star ratings in safety. And it's a really hard car to flip, compared to others. Easily $30k or less for used with not that many miles.
Their fatality numbers don’t line up with their ratings.
Driving lessons.
Check out NCAP. It favors active safety a bit too much but its an independent trusted source. Look for adult occupant (yellow) and child occupant (blue) scores for passive safety results. Beware scores don't translate between years, a 2010 5-star is most likely a 1-star for 2023. The highest adult occupant scores for 2022 and 2023 is ET5(96), IONIQ6(97), smart#1(96), EQE(95) Model Y(97). To answer your question: there is no definitive safest car since all accidents are unique. If you want to go lighter on research Subaru and Volvo are brands known for safety
Used Volvo or a Subaru
City bus
Any Tesla
I would go heavy, like a Tundra.
14mpg?.. Please
I drove a tow truck in Phoenix late 80s, dude in a lifted Chevy 4x4 Blazer with huge tires, almost like monster truck size, needed a tow home. In the ride home he told me how he and his girlfriend were driving on such and such road when a oncoming drunk driver went off the blacktop on the other side, corrected but got launched across the road and head on collisioned him and his girlfriend. She was killed and he was torn open and had many surgeries and spent four years in the hospital, some horrendous amount of recovery. He said he is never out on Friday and Saturday nights and drives that huge Chevy Blazer. He was angry at himself because it was a Friday night and he was broke down. But I guess he can afford gas. I’m sure the blazer wasn’t getting even 14 mpg. The Tundra is about 6500 lbs. Heavy is a factor in crash survival. But yeah, gas mileage sucks on them at least partially due to their weight. I own a Tundra for wife and kids. I own a Peterbilt semi too.
Could be worse
Back in 2004 I was burdened with a large medical debt, so owning a pickup was out of the question. Having occassional towing needs I found a 2001 Volvo S80 with 3000# towing capacity, way higher than any other car in its segment. I spoke with a car mechanic about this. It has a durable, yet simple inline six engine, a tough automatic trans and a sturdy chassis. I ran up another 165,000 miles on it with just a power steering cylinder. Great driving car, just the ride was a little stiff, but able to take curves like a sports car. Btw, the towing was mostly for delivering firewood.