2025's safest car brands unveiled: Top picks for your peace of mind

• 5 car brands have released only 5-star safety-rated cars in the last decade.
• 2024 car models have had the highest number of 5* safety ratings to date.
• Volvo and Genesis are the least complained-about car brands.

Whether you’re trying to keep your family safe or just looking for a reliable car, car safety is an important factor. It’s increasingly taking priority for buyers, as ”car safety” averages 794K searches on Google worldwide.

So, the big question is: which brands are the safest? After analysing data, Confused.com ranked car brands based on the average percentage of their vehicles that scored 5 stars in safety ratings. The top 5 safest car brands, based on this ranking, were Genesis, Polestar, Subaru, Tesla, and Volvo. With that being said, new research from Confused.com, one of the UK’s leading car insurance comparison sites, has revealed the safest car manufacturers for 2025. Confused.com has analysed vehicle safety ratings and consumer complaints data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2,317 vehicles released since 2014. This analysis identifies the car brands with the highest safety standards and the fewest consumer complaints. That way, you can make the best, informed choice for your needs. Here’s what you need to know:

These 5 car brands have released only 5-star safety-rated cars in the last decade.
Each brand in the top 5 achieved a 100% safety score, meaning all of their cars received only 5-star ratings for overall vehicle safety. This rating is based on a comprehensive analysis of crash tests, including frontal impact, side impact, and rollover resistance, as well as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These brands excel in a wide range of safety features, from collision prevention systems to driver distraction detection, and much more.

Top 10 car brands with the highest safety scores per car tested - See all 34 brands' rankings here.

When it comes to safety, EVs brands are leading, with Polestar and Tesla both offering electric vehicles and releasing only 5-star safety-rated cars in the last decade.

EVs are not only better for the environment; they’re often thought to be safer than most combustion engine cars. They perform well in crash tests—lacking a heavy front engine allows for more spacious crumple zones and better weight distribution, which can help prevent flipping. Both brands offer a wide range of safety features, including radars and sensors for detecting external risks and onboard technology to protect you if you do crash.

Volvo and Genesis are the least complained-about car brands, study shows

Top 10 car brands with the fewest complaints - See all 34 brands' rankings here.

Customer complaints are a helpful way to gauge how well-liked and how safe a car is. The analysis revealed that Volvo and Genesis tie for first place as the least complained-about car brands, based on the average number of total complaints per car for each brand. The analysis highlighted common consumer concerns, including car faults and technology issues¹.

Polestar took second place, with Lexus following closely behind in third. Audi, Mitsubishi, and Smart also ranked among the top 10 brands with the fewest complaints. Each of the brands in the top 10 had fewer than 100 complaints per car tested.

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 been increasing over the last 10 years. During the pandemic, many manufacturers are thought to have resorted to using lower-quality parts and microchips, This was thanks to the lack of manufacturing during 2020 and 2021 which led to less reliable cars².

The good news? Cars from 2024 are better than ever and are getting more 5-star safety ratings than previous years. This is likely due to the return of quality materials and an advancement in technology³. 2024 has seen a rise in all sorts of technological advancements, from the shift to more impressive electric cars to autonomous driving capabilities and much more.

from the shift to more impressive electric cars to autonomous driving capabilities and much more.

EVs received 44% fewer complaints than ICE vehicles

When comparing electric cars (EV) to internal combustion engine cars (ICE), EVs had a much higher percentage of 5-star rated models. EVs score over 91% in safety, with ICE cars falling behind by 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.

Additionally, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles received the highest number of complaints from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, averaging 161 per car tested year-to-date. However, electric vehicles (EVs) fare much better with an average of just 91 complaints per car—a 44% reduction compared to ICE vehicles. Hybrid vehicles take the lead as the least complained-about fuel type, averaging just 62 complaints per car, a 62% reduction compared to ICE vehicles and 32% fewer complaints than EVs.

With these trends, it’s no surprise that the sales of electric and hybrid vehicles continue to grow each year.

So what car should you consider buying in 2025?
Polestar, Volvo, and Genesis all appeared in the top five brands for both safety ratings and complaints, with the data indicating they perform strongly for reliability and safety. These brands offer a range of fuel types, from EVs to ICE and hybrids. The advanced safety assists like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping technology, and child protection features further contribute to their strong safety performance.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com, 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. With a safer car, you may also enjoy benefits when it comes to your car insurance. That’s because vehicles with higher safety ratings are often seen as lower risk and generally cheaper to insure ⁴. Sometimes though, it can lead to higher claims costs. This is because repairing the safety technology these cars use can be expensive.”

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Notes to editors