Recommendations for the Safest Used Cars

Looking for a vehicle that is safe, dependable, and budget-friendly? Want a million bucks? The former is more achievable than the latter, thanks to the annual list of recommended gently used cars released by IIHS and Consumer Reports.

This list primarily targets parents shopping for teenage drivers, but it’s also applicable to anyone seeking a safe, reliable used car under $20,000. This year, seven Toyota models were included in the "Best" choices, while four Mazdas made the list, accounting for two-thirds of the small automaker's offerings.

This year, 58 models qualify for the consumer advocates' recommendations, which is an increase from 46 last year. Moreover, all vehicles on the list have at least an "Acceptable" rating in a driver-side front crash test, and the top-tier vehicles come equipped with automatic emergency braking technology proven to slow or stop a vehicle before it collides with another. The IIHS finds that this technology halves front-to-rear crashes. Last year, more than 95% of new vehicles included this technology as standard.

Additionally, market dynamics have contributed to this year's list.

"Vehicles continue to become safer, and for the first time since the pandemic disruptions, prices in both new and used markets have stabilized," said Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center. "These trends have allowed us to point families to even better options this year."

Even though traffic fatalities decreased in 2023 for the first time in years, down to 40,990 fatalities from a record 42,915 in 2021, teen crash rates still occur at nearly four times those of other drivers. The number of fatalities involving a teen driver—previously the leading cause of death for children up to age nineteen—was 5,339 in 2022, according to the National Safety Council.

The IIHS and Consumer Reports recommend vehicles based on sensible safety factors in addition to those equipped with specific technologies. They encourage shoppers to avoid high-horsepower cars that might tempt even the best of us into reckless behavior. The complete list excludes small cars weighing less than 2,750 pounds, which offer less crash protection. Conversely, oversized full-size SUVs or trucks are omitted due to their lengthy stopping distances and harder handling. They are also more challenging to park in school lots.

Furthermore, the recommended vehicles below must have:

Above-average reliability based on CR consumer surveys
Average or better scores on CR's emergency handling tests
Good dry braking test results
Top "Good" ratings in four crash tests by the IIHS
At least an "Acceptable" rating in the IIHS small overlap test simulating a head-on collision
At least a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA

The prices, rounded to the nearest $100 for the base model, are derived from Kelley Blue Book fair purchase prices as of April 19, 2024, excluding mandatory destination fees.