For teens just beginning to drive regularly — and for adult drivers with children — safety is paramount when choosing a vehicle. Knowing which cars are the least likely to injure their inhabitants in the event of a collision is, therefore, a key step in the car-buying process, whether you’re budgeting for a new or used vehicle.
In the modern day, some cars even have smart technology systems that can help drivers avoid collisions altogether, but these advanced detection and avoidance features can add thousands to a vehicle’s price tag, and most Americans can’t afford to buy new in any case.
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For those who can afford to purchase a new car, choosing one of the safest new cars of 2024 according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a great idea. But for everyone else, what are the safest used cars on the market under $20,000? What about under $10,000?
Here’s what the experts have to say:
Related: The 10 most reliable car brands in 2024 according to experts
The safest used cars between $10K and $20K according to Consumer Reports and IIHS
Consumer Reports is a nearly century-old not-for-profit organization that tests vehicles at its driving courses and labs in Connecticut and New York and surveys its members about their own vehicles. It is one of the most trusted voices in automobile safety and reliability.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, established in 1959, is a somewhat younger nonprofit, but it is also one of the most respected crash-test-conducting firms around.
The vehicles below were jointly selected by these organizations for a mix of safety and affordability, making them perfect for teen drivers and working families.
2017 Toyota Corollas can be found for around $10,600.
Small cars
Toyota Corolla (sedan or hatchback)
2017 or newer (sedan); 2019 (hatchback)
$10,600
Toyota Prius
2017 or newer
$13,800
Mazda 3 (sedan or hatchback)
2021–22
$16,400
Toyota Prius Prime
2017 or newer
$17,000
Honda Civic (sedan or hatchback)
2021 or newer
$17,600
2018 Toyota Camrys can be found starting around $9,600.
Kevauto, CC-BY-SA-4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Midsize–large cars & minivans
Toyota Camry
2018 or newer
$9,600
Volvo S60
2017, 2021
$10,200
Volvo V60
2017, 2021
$12,300
Toyota Avalon
2017 or newer
$14,400
Subaru Legacy
2019
$14,700
Hyundai Sonata
2021
$17,200
Toyota Sienna
2018–20
$19,100
Honda Accord Sedan
2020
$19,200
A 2020 Chevy Equinox can start at around $13,800.
Small SUVs
Chevrolet Equinox
2020, 2023
$13,800
Kia Sportage
2020 or newer
$14,400
Toyota RAV4
2017 or newer
$14,700
Hyundai Tuscon
2020 or newer
$14,900
Mazda CX-5
2021–23
$17,600
Lexus UX
2019–21
$18,100
Honda CR-V
2020 or newer
$18,700
Nissan Rogue
2021
$19,000
Subaru Forester
2021 or newer
$19,000
Mazda CX-30
2022 or newer
$19,900
A 2017 Vovlo XC60 usually starts around $12,100.
Gerlach Delissen – Corbis/Getty Images
Midsize SUVs
Volvo XC60
2017
$12,100
Hyundai Santa Fe
2019, 2020, 2023
$15,200
Toyota Highlander
2017 or newer
$15,700
Nissan Murano
2019, 2020
$15,900
GMC Terrain
2020, 2023
$16,100
Ford Edge
2020 or newer
$16,700
Lexus NX
2018–21
$17,100
Infiniti QX60
2019
$17,800
Mazda CX9
2020, 2022
$18,800
More automotive content:
Best new cars and SUVs under $30k according to Consumer ReportsThe longest-lasting car models (200k+ miles) according to Consumer ReportsThe least expensive car brands to repair & maintain according to Consumer Reports
The safest used cars under $10k according to Car & Driver
Car and Driver, while not a nonprofit organization like CR or IIHS, has been around since 1955 and is generally well-regarded within the automotive community and has received a “high credibility” rating and a high “factual reporting” score from Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC).
These are the 13 safest used cars under $10,000 that Car and Driver recommends for teens and other drivers for whom safety and affordability are primary concerns.
Older Ford Taurus models often sell for well under $10,000.
jpowers65, CC BY-ND 2.0 via Flickr
Ford Taurus
2011, 2014
Honda Accord
2013 or newer
Honda Civic
2012–2015
Hyundai Tuscon
2012
Mazda 3
2011 or newer
Mazda CX-5
2014 or newer
Subaru Legacy or Outback
2013 or newer
Toyota Camry
2012 or newer
Toyota Highlander
2008 or newer
Toyota Prius
2011 or newer
Toyota Prius V
2012–2014
Related: Used cars to avoid buying according to Consumer Reports
Why are car safety features and crash test results so important?
In the modern day, most of us take driving for granted as a fact of life, despite the fact that it’s probably one of the riskiest things we do on a day-to-day basis.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, car crashes are the “second leading cause of death from unintentional injuries in the United States.” Additionally, the DHHS reports that we in the U.S. experience car crash deaths at around twice the average rate of other high-income counties.
According to the National Safety Council, you’re more likely to die from a car crash than you are from fire, drowning, choking, or sunstroke:
Car crash
1 in 93
Drowning
1 in 1,032
Fire/smoke
1 in 1,236
Choking
1 in 2,482
Sunstroke
1 in 4,402
Cars are, in one sense, fast-moving, 4,000-pound (on average) steel enclosures that we entrust our safety to on a daily basis. And regardless of one’s own driving ability, reaction time, and safety consciousness, there is no way to control or predict the behavior of the countless other drivers with whom we share the roads.
None of this changes the fact that most Americans need to drive at least semi-regularly (94.5% of driving-age Americans drove at least once in 2022), but it does highlight the importance of considering safety features when choosing a vehicle — the right safety features and crash responses can mean the difference between mild injury and severe injury or severe injury and death.