The safest cars to invest in for 2025!

Looking for a car that puts your safety first? You’re not alone! Whether you’re trying to keep your family safe or just looking for a reliable car, safety is an important factor. And it’s more important than ever.

We analysed the data from Google Trends over the past 5 years. The results show that searches for 'safest cars' have soared by 49% this year. Learn more about the safest car manufacturers for 2025, so you can make the best, informed choice for your needs. 

The safest car brands, overall

So, the big question is: which brands are the safest? We’ve done the digging so you don’t have to. 

After taking our data for a test drive, Genesis, Polestar, Subaru, Tesla, and Volvo were revealed as the top 5 safest car brands. They’re all vying for pole position, with each boasting a 100% safety score and having released only 5-star safety-rated cars in the last decade. You’ll find a wide range of safety features, from collision prevention systems to driver distraction detection and much more. 

When it comes to safety, the electric vehicle brands are leading the charge. Polestar and Tesla both exclusively offer electric vehicles (EVs). Why is this important? EVs are not only better for the environment; they’re often thought to be safer than most combustion engine cars. They really shine in crash tests—without a hefty engine up front, they can have more spacious crumple zones and better weight distribution, which helps prevent flipping. Not only that, but both brands offer a wide range of impressive safety features. These include radars and sensors for detecting external risks and onboard technology to protect you if you do crash. 

While EV-only brands often receive high safety ratings, that doesn’t take away from the innovative ways that other brands like Genesis, Subaru, and Volvo are also keeping you safe. Genesis’ Highway Driving Assist technology helps to keep you in-lane and merge smoothly. Subaru's pre-collision braking system helps prevent crashes before they happen. Volvo’s Blind Spot Information System keeps an eye out for sneaky cars creeping into your blind spot or approaching rapidly on either side of your car. These only scratch the surface of the impressive safety features our top brands are offering drivers. 

2024 car models have had the highest percentage of 5* ratings to date

Apart from a couple of blips, the number of cars with a 5-star rating has consistently been going up over the last 10 years. The only exceptions are 2016 and 2022, when safety ratings dipped. Unsurprisingly, we can blame the pandemic for the 2022 dip in car quality. Many manufacturers are thought to have resorted to using lower-quality parts and microchips (thanks to the lack of manufacturing during 2020 and 2021), which led to less reliable cars. 

The good news? Cars tested so far in 2024 are better than ever and getting more 5-star safety ratings than any year. This is probably due to the return of quality materials. And an advancement in technology. 2024 has seen a rise of all sorts of technological advancements, from the shift to more impressive electric cars to autonomous driving capabilities and much more. 

Electric vehicles outperform combustion engine cars for safety

We’re sure you’ve noticed the rise in the number of electric vehicles over recent years. It used to be a rare sight to see an EV on the road; now it feels like every other car is electric. There’s also been a big push to add charging stations to many car parks too. And for good reason. In a time where being eco-conscious is more important than ever, many people are making the switch. That, coupled with the fact that their safety ratings are much higher than traditional combustion engine cars, we can see why there’s been such a shift. 

When comparing electric cars to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, we uncovered that EVs have a much higher percentage of 5-star rated models. EVs score over 91% in safety, with ICE cars falling behind at 69%. While more ICE vehicles are analysed due to EVs being relatively new, this highlights that EVs are entering the automotive space with safety as a top priority.

Now you know the safest car brands, but have you ever wondered which receive the most complaints? While many focus on safety issues like airbags, seat belts, and brakes, others highlight less critical concerns, such as interior lighting or air conditioning failures.

Which brand has the fewest complaints about their car models?

Customer complaints are a helpful way to gauge how well-liked a car is. After analysing 833,761 complaints across 34 car brands, we found that Volvo and Genesis are joint first for the least complained-about car brands. We analysed the number of complaints against the number of cars tested in safety ratings to highlight the most common consumer complaints.

Polestar came in second place with Lexus following closely in third. Audi, Mitsubishi, and Smart were also among the top brands with the fewest complaints. Each of these top brands had fewer than 100 complaints per car tested—an impressive comment on the reliability of each vehicle. 

Hybrids have fewer complaints than electric and combustion engine cars

ICE vehicles receive the most complaints, averaging 161 per car tested year-to-date. Electric vehicles perform much better, with just 91 complaints per car—a 44% drop from ICE vehicles. Hybrids, however, have the fewest complaints, averaging only 62—a 62% reduction from ICE cars and 32% fewer than EVs.

With these trends, it’s no surprise that the sales of low-emission vehicles continue to grow each year.

Cars in 2024 are safer than ever before, with a steady rise in safety ratings over the last 10 years (ignoring the blips in 2016 and 2022). Our data shows that more and more car brands are focusing on safety as a priority.

So what car should you consider buying in 2025? Polestar, Volvo, and Genesis all appeared in the top five for both safety ratings and complaints, making them three excellent choices with a variety of car models ranging from EVs to ICE and hybrids. Additionally, we noticed that Tesla and Subaru stand out as strong options based on safety alone. These brands are using the latest innovations and technological advances to create the safest cars on the market. If you want to go the extra mile, an electric car is the best option for safety and reliability. Look for advanced safety assists like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping technology, and child protection features.

Knowing you're safe and secure in your car is a priceless feeling for most people. But did you know choosing a safer car could save you money on your insurance? Cars that are packed with advanced safety features are often seen as lower-risk. This could mean cheaper car insurance payments. But keep in mind that all this tech can sometimes mean expensive parts and repairs. 

What our motor insurance expert says

"Investing in a car with top-tier safety features isn’t just about peace of mind—it’s about making sure you and your loved ones are protected. And with a safer car, you may also enjoy benefits when it comes to your car insurance, as vehicles with higher safety ratings are often seen as lower risk."

Louise Thomas Motor insurance expert

Methodology

Confused.com collected the safety star ratings for 2,317 vehicles released from 2014 onwards. This data was collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The data covers 34 popular car brands. We identified the vehicles with the highest safety ratings, ranking them by percentage and the number of cars analysed per percentage. 

Additionally, we analysed 833,761 complaints on the website to uncover the least-complained-about car brands, based on the average number of complaints per car tested.