Vehicle safety is a top priority for every family, and today, we’re looking at the safest vehicles and top or Best family cars for safety you can buy in 2024.
If you’re thinking about buying a vehicle now or you already have one for your family, stick around to see if your car made it onto the August 2024 IIHS family car safety list.
So, let’s find out if your car is still one of the safest according to this year’s IIHS rankings.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released their top safety picks for 2024, and they’ve raised the bar with tougher crash testing requirements from their end. And so some of the options from last that where considered safest family cars dropped in ranking.
Now this Is not to say you if you already have vehicles that drop should go ahead and throw them away, but this guide is more about putting the know of what to look out for and even probably taking your individual precautions when using them knowing that they are lacking in.
This also keeps you informed about your future purchases when considering getting a new family-friendly vehicle with a higher family car crash test ratings.
I must, we were thrilled to find out that many vehicles that were previously on top of the safety picks have fallen short due to the new safety standards by the IIHS.
Out of the many vehicles tested, there were a total of 49 vehicles that earned the top safety pick award, while only 22 went further in achieving the prestigious you know, top safety pick plus award this time.
Comparing this to last year’s award, that is, the 2023 awards, where the IIHS awarded 48 vehicles the Top Safety Pick award. Out of the 48; 28 vehicles from the list to the Top Safety Pick Plus award. Autoblog
Table of Contents
What should you consider when choosing the safest family-friendly car?
When picking a family-friendly car, safety is number one; so you need to consider family vehicles with safety technology and advanced safety features. This is where the IIHS rating comes in because it helps know which vehicles are family cars with top safety ratings. Look for cars with high crash test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA and cool safety features like automatic braking and lane-keeping assist. These are like safety shields for your family.
Next, consider reliability and space. You want a car that doesn’t break down often, with good warranties. Make sure it has enough seats and space for everyone and everything, like a roomy toy chest for all your stuff.
Fuel efficiency and tech features are also important. Choose a car that saves on gas and has fun tech like screens and USB ports to keep everyone entertained and connected.
Lastly, check reviews. See what car experts and other families say about the car. It’s like reading toy reviews before buying the best one. This way, you’ll get a safe, reliable, and fun car for your family.
Best family cars for safety
Now let’s get into the safest cars and SUVs that will keep your family protected on the road this year according to the Latest IIHS picks and Awards as we look at the new requirements and conditions that they introduced.
First, the Updated Moderate Overlap Front Test:
This easily this year, the IIHS introduced an updated moderate overlap front test that now includes an additional dummy in the second row which focuses on testing for the injuries most frequently seen in rear-seat occupants.
With this testing criteria, car makers have now been pushed to improve safety guides for backseat passengers, which is a significant update compared to previous years (IIHS).
Who are the winners in the compact car category?
Well, compact cars are the popular choice for families looking for affordability and efficiency; it is nice to see that in 2024, two models in the compact vehicle category earned the top safety pick award and they are:
- The Subaru Impreza,
- And the Hyundai Elantra.
These two compact vehicle models received significant updates that allowed them to meet the stringent new crash testing requirements by the IIHS.
When it comes to the Top Safety Pick Plus Award, I like to say that about three compact cars won the Top Safety Pick Plus Award as of 2024. And the winners are:
- The Mazda 3,
- The Acura Integra,
- And the Toyota Prius.
It is important to remind ourselves that, the Mazda 3 and Integra were also winners last year too, which shows their consistent commitment to safety.
As a family-oriented car owner, seeing the Prius—a top choice for car of the year—on this list is reassuring considering that it is one of my favorite vehicles with low maintenance needs.
So it’s very satisfying to know that the Prius vehicle offers excellent safety for your loved ones.
What about the midsize and large cars?
Which ones do you think made the list from 2023 to 2024 list?
Well, when it comes to midsize and large cars, family needs and safety are quite paramount, and in this category, the winners of the top safety pick award are:
- The Toyota Camry,
- The Toyota Crown,
- The Subaru Outback
The Camry stands out because even the outgoing model meets top safety standards, which is promising for families looking at older and affordable models.
For the top safety pick plus award,
- The all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 6
- And the Honda Accord are the top choice list.
These two vehicles offer outstanding safety features, which make them an ideal choice for families seeking reliability and protection on the road.
In this category, it is worth noting that only a small number of cars have qualified for either award compared to last year which has almost double the number of this year’s winners.
This simply highlights a gap in safety advancements for these popular vehicle classes (IIHS).
Which small SUVs made the list? ( Safe SUVs for families)
Small SUVs are often the go-to choice for families because of their versatility and space.
The winners of the top safety pick award in this category include:
- The Honda CR-V,
- The Hyundai Tucson,
- The Kia Sportage,
- The Lexus UX,
- And the BMW X1.
Also, some electric models earned top safety picks of the year, we are talking about electric models like:
- the Hyundai Ioniq 5,
- Lexus RZ,
- and Subaru Solterra.
The Honda CR-V and Lexus UX being repeat winners show their consistent safety performance, which is great for families.
And now, let’s move on to the top safety plus award in the small SUV category.
The top safety pick plus award winners in this category are :
- the Mazda CX-30
- the CX-50,
- the Honda HR-V,
- the Hyundai Kona,
- and the Genesis GV60.
I know you will agree that it is reassuring for families who own or are considering buying to see any of these models, toknow that their choice made it to the IIHS reliability and safety test list again this year.
Class-Specific Insights:
Small SUVs, midsize SUVs, and midsize luxury SUVs are tied for the most Top Safety Pick+ awards, reflecting their popularity and the advancements in safety features within these segments (IIHS)
So, How did larger midsize SUVs perform?
When it comes to the larger midsize SUVs the IIHS divided this category into luxury and non-luxury segments.
For non-luxury midsize SUVs, the top safety pick award winners are:
- the Hyundai Palisade,
- Honda Pilot,
- Jeep Grand Cherokee,
- Toyota Highlander,
- Volkswagen Atlas.
Also for this category, the list extended to electric vehicles like
- The Nissan Ariya,
And the top safety pick plus award winners are:
- the Kia Telluride,
- Nissan Pathfinder,
- Subaru Ascent,
- Mazda CX-90,
- and Ford Explorer.
These vehicles offer excellent safety features and plenty of room, making them ideal for family road trips and daily commutes.
And for the Midsize Luxury SUVs:
Midsize luxury SUVs, which qualify for an additional 12 Top Safety Pick awards, earn the most awards overall, indicating significant advancements in safety within this category.
Why didn’t Volvo win the highest safety award?
Volvo, traditionally known for its safety, did not secure the highest top safety pick plus award this year. Instead, the winners in the luxury midsize SUV category include the Mercedes GLE, Tesla Model Y, Genesis GV80, BMW X3, and Acura MDX.
These vehicles have demonstrated top-notch safety features and crashworthiness, making them excellent choices for families looking for luxury and protection.
Which minivans and trucks made the cut?
Minivans and trucks are also popular with families for their space and utility. In the minivan category, only the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna earned the top safety pick award.
It’s surprising that no minivans won the top safety pick plus award and that other models from Kia and Chrysler didn’t make the list.
In the truck category, only the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Rivian R1T, and Toyota Tundra were rated as top safety picks. Similar to minivans, no trucks won the top safety pick plus award.
Relatively Few Pickups and Minivans: It is disappointing that only four pickups and four minivans earned awards, considering the popularity of these classes (IIHS).
Which brands stand out for safety?
When it comes to safety, certain brands stand out. Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia, received the most awards for 2024 with a total of 17, including eight top safety pick plus and nine top safety pick awards.
Toyota Motor Corporation, encompassing Toyota and Lexus, followed with 13 awards. Mazda, though smaller, earned six awards, highlighting its dedication to safety.
For families, these brands offer reliable and safe choices across various models.
Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia, has the most 2024 awards overall. They secured eight top safety pick plus and nine top safety pick awards, showing their commitment to safety across multiple brands
Are electric cars safe still for you and your family?
Electric vehicles (EVs) have made significant strides in safety. Many EV models earned top safety picks, proving they are among the safest on the road.
While some skeptics worry about battery safety and fire hazards, data shows that such incidents are rare.
In fact, the likelihood of an EV catching fire is lower than that of a traditional gas-powered car.
Many EVs now feature advanced safety technologies and perform well in crash tests, making them excellent choices for families.
Advancements to Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention Systems:
The standards for pedestrian front crash prevention systems have been toughened.
In 2024, the IIHS combined daytime and nighttime evaluations into a single test, making nighttime performance essential for awards.
This change emphasizes the importance of technology that detects and brakes for pedestrians in all vehicles, reflecting the increase in pedestrian fatalities
The IIHS website explains how the testing was made tougher this year in several areas, and this really does seem to be the most comprehensive crash testing that we have.
Certainly, others are extremely good as well, including NHTSA’s five-star safety rating system and the Euro NCAP safety rating.
These are both excellent, and you will certainly be covering all your bases if you select a vehicle that has a top safety rating from all three.
If you want to learn more about how each association rates vehicles for safety, I’ll put additional information in the description below.
So what are the Summary of them all when you ask the question What are the best family cars for safety
Summary of the Best family cars for kids and you.
Here are some of the best family cars with top safety ratings options across different categories you may want to consider:
Compact Cars
- Mazda 3 – Known for its strong safety features and reliable performance.
- Toyota Prius – A hybrid with excellent safety ratings and fuel efficiency.
Midsize Cars
- Honda Accord – Consistently recognized for its comprehensive suite of safety features and high safety ratings.
- Toyota Camry – Equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, offering robust safety technologies.
Small SUVs
- Mazda CX-50 – Highly rated for its safety and driver assistance features.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 – An electric SUV with advanced safety innovations.
Midsize SUVs
- Honda Pilot – Offers extensive safety features, making it a reliable choice for families.
- Hyundai Palisade – Combines spaciousness with top-notch safety technologies.
- Kia Telluride – Known for its safety features and spacious interior, making it ideal for larger families.
Large SUVs
- Ford Explorer – Provides advanced safety features and ample space for family adventures.
Minivans
- Honda Odyssey – Equipped with family-friendly safety features and spacious seating.
- Toyota Sienna – Offers a hybrid option with excellent safety ratings and efficiency.
What are the best family sedans for safety?
For top family sedans in terms of safety, consider these models:
1. Honda Accord
- Safety: Honda Sensing® includes collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
- Rating: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
2. Toyota Camry
- Safety: Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ with pre-collision system, lane departure alert, and dynamic radar cruise control.
- Rating: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
3. Mazda 3
- Safety: Smart city brake support, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
- Rating: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
4. Subaru Legacy
- Safety: Subaru EyeSight® with adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking.
- Rating: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
5. Hyundai Sonata
- Safety: Hyundai SmartSense with forward collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist.
- Rating: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
6. Kia K5
- Safety: Kia Drive Wise with forward collision avoidance and blind-spot collision avoidance.
- Rating: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Which of the vehicles on this list would you consider buying?
Let me know in the comments below which of the Crash-tested family cars you own or would consider buying.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure to like and subscribe to our blog. You can also take a look at my other videos by clicking these links over here.
If you need additional car-buying advice, recommendations, or help with getting a great deal on your next new car purchase, make sure to visit Auto V Fix.com.
