1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class – $52,950
Loyal readers of The Drive already know we’re big fans of this sleek luxury car, whether it’s in basic E300 sedan form, as the E400 station wagon, or in the form of the rip-roaring AMG models, the E43 and the E63. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class combines comfort, style, performance, and technology like few other cars on America’s roads today, arguably making it one of the best vehicles you can buy off the showroom floor (assuming you can stomach the price tag, of course).
But the E-Class is also one of the safest cars on the road, according to the IIHS and the NHTSA. Mercedes has been a leader in automotive safety for decades, and this four-door only builds upon that legacy. In addition to the usual array of safety features found in cars today, the E-Class offers innovative high-tech occupant protection components, like a system that prepares your ears for the bang of a crash by blasting “pink noise,” car-to-X communication that lets other Benzes notify your car about potential safety hazards, and a system that preventively inflates the front seat bolsters if the car senses a side-impact crash to move the occupants away from the deforming sheet metal. And with a solid predicted reliability rating, this Benz should hold up well over the years.
2. Honda Accord – $22,495
The Honda Accord is set to be replaced with an all-new, 10th-generation version later this year, but the outgoing version is hardly outdated; the 2017 model is still one of the safest cars in America. It’s also one of the more multifaceted cars on sale in America today; depending on options and trim level, the Accord can play any role from basic transportation to sporty sedan to pseduo-luxury car to Earth-friendly hybrid.
But this list is about excellence in safety, and that’s something every example of Honda’s mid-sized sedan brings to the table. Every Accord comes with a rear-view camera and a brake assist system that helps drivers apply greater stopping force in a panic stop; higher-trims come with Honda’s LaneWatch system, which projects the feed from a wide-angle camera under the passenger’s side mirror onto the center console when the right blinker is on. Standard on the top-tier Touring trim and optional on other Accords is the Honda Sensing suite, which bundles together active braking and collision warning, lane and road departure warning, and lane keep assist. With all those features and solid reliability rankings, the Accord makes for a good choice for any driver looking to have it all in a sedan at a decent price.
3. Subaru Impreza – $18,395
Most car enthusiasts know the Subaru Impreza best for its sporty WRX and STI models—the former of which earned a place on our “Best Cheap Sports Cars of 2017” list—but the non-turbocharged models are more than deserving of praise. With a 152-horsepower flat-four connected to a ropey five-speed manual or an economy-tuned CVT, the Impreza isn’t exactly swift, but standard all-wheel-drive and the carmaker’s new Global Platform architecture makes it stable and secure on the road.
But this Subaru also comes with plenty of standard and optional safety features. Every Impreza comes with a rear view camera, for example, years ahead of the government’s mandated date. In addition, the Impreza can be specced up with rear cross traffic alert, automatic reverse braking, blind spot detection, and the camera-based EyeSight system, which brings with it active braking to prevent or minimize collisions and lane keep assist to, well, keep the car in its lane.
And not only is the Subaru Impreza one of the safest cars in America today, it’s also one of the most affordable. Buyers can walk out the door with an Impreza equipped with all those standard and optional safety features for less than $24,000—almost $10,000 cheaper than the median new car price in the United States. Add in a decent J.D. Power predicted reliability rating, and this Subie seems like a solid bet for anyone seeking quality transportation on a budget.
4. Chevrolet Volt – $34,095
The second-generation Chevrolet Volt is best-known for its fuel economy prowess; it is, after all, a plug-in hybrid capable of going 53 miles on electric power alone and averaging an impressive 106 mpg-e overall, according to the EPA. It’s also a far more stylish vehicle than its predecessor, and in spite of what you might expect based on its eco-friendly nature, isn’t all that unhappy being hustled down a back road.
But the car surrounding this futuristic powertrain is also one of the safest environments on the road. Every 2017 Chevy Volt comes with 10 airbags and a rearview camera; add on the Driver Confidence II Package, and the Volt picks up lane keep assist, blind spot awareness, forward collision alert, and rear cross traffic alert. The Volt is still fairly new, so long-term dependability is hard to pin down, but J.D. Power and Associates estimates it should have average reliability.
5. Genesis G80 – $41,750
Along with the larger G90 sedan, the Genesis G80—formerly known as the Hyundai Genesis—marks Hyundai/Kia’s most significant push into the luxury car world. While unlikely to be confused with a BMW M5, even in G80 Sport form, the middleweight contender from Hyundai’s luxury division is an exceedingly comfortable cruiser, ideal for both commutes and road trips alike. And its Korean-spec warranty means you can expect to go 10 years or 100,000 miles before worrying about paying for powertrain breakdowns—a handy feature for the well-off who got that way by being smart with their money.
And you’ll likely feel comfortable driving the Genesis G80 all those years, as its standing as one of the safest cars in America means it should remain a secure place for your family for the next decade. Unlike some carmakers’ vehicles, every single G80 comes loaded with every safety feature the company offers on the model, from nine airbags to a rearview camera. Lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, pedestrian-detecting automatic emergency braking—they’re all standard, whether you spring for the basic 3.8-liter V-6 model or the full-blown 5.0 Ultimate version with its naturally-aspirated V-8. Factor in strong predicted reliability, and this Genesis seems like a great choice for anyone seeking a safe luxury car…so long as they don’t care about the badge.
Marc Constantin blog 