Safest Cars
Safety is one of the most important attributes shoppers consider when purchasing a car, and crash-test results have become a crucial part of the shopping process. But crash ratings from lab tests may not tell the whole story. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently compiled statistics about driver deaths in late-model vehicles. With new safety technology and better car designs, the number of fatal crashes has dropped by more than one-third in the last three years. The goal, of course, is the elimination of driver fatalities, and for 2011 vehicles there were nine vehicles that achieved this mark. Perhaps no surprise — two-thirds of those were SUVs.
A few notes about the study: The following data represents 2011 models; however, stats from as far back as model-year 2008 are included if the vehicles weren’t substantially redesigned before 2011.
To make this list, a vehicle must have had at least 100,000 registered vehicle years of exposure during 2009-12, or at least 20 driver deaths. Fatality counts are taken from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Registration data comes from R.L. Polk & Co. Here are the vehicles with the lowest driver death rates:
Audi A4 quattro
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Honda Odyssey
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
5 Stars
Kia Sorento 2WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Lexus RX 350 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Not tested
NHTSA
Not tested
Subaru Legacy AWD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Toyota Sequoia 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Not tested
NHTSA
Not tested
Volvo XC90 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 0
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
Not tested
Honda Pilot 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 2
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 2
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Moderate
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Mercedes-Benz M-Class 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 3
Multiple vehicle crashes: 3
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: NA
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
Not tested
Ford Crown Victoria
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 4
Multiple vehicle crashes: 4
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Moderate
Roof strength: NA
Head restraints & seats: Moderate
NHTSA
Not tested
GMC Yukon 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 4
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 4
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Not tested
NHTSA
4 Stars
Acura TL
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 5
Multiple vehicle crashes: 5
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
Not tested
Chevrolet Equinox 2WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 5
Multiple vehicle crashes: 3
Single vehicle crashes: 2
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Chevrolet Equinox 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 5
Multiple vehicle crashes: 5
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
4 Stars
Ford Expedition 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 5
Multiple vehicle crashes: 5
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Not tested
NHTSA
Not tested
Ford Flex 2WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 5
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 5
Single vehicle rollovers: 0
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good
NHTSA
Not tested
Mazda CX-9 4WD
Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 5
Multiple vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle crashes: 5
Single vehicle rollovers: 5
IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Moderate
Head restraints & seats: Moderate
NHTSA
Not tested
