Safest SUVs. 2022 Safe SUVs Rated

What Characterizes the Safest Crossovers and SUVs?

While many vehicles may fall into the classification of the safest crossovers SUVs, not all are created equal. Here are some of the common features you can expect to find in an SUV with a top safety rating:

All the passives: No car can claim to be truly safe without including all the common passive safety features. These include well-designed crumple zones, seatbelts for every passenger, anti-lock brakes, and a full complement of airbags.
Forward collision avoidance: This is relatively standard on every one of the safest sport utility vehicles. The most common components include forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Pedestrian detection and reverse braking are becoming more popular options and we may see more cars in 2023 including both as standard.
Cameras, Monitors, Sensors: Every vehicle in the USA must include at least a rearview camera, but few automakers stop there. Blind-spot monitoring is quite common, too, and many upper-tier trims include rear cross-traffic alert. Front and rear parking sensors, as well as a surround-view or top-down camera, are often included on the top model in most lineups.
Artificial Intelligence: Though technically not a safety feature, adaptive cruise control can help take the strain off driving and help you stay alert for longer. Currently, auto-cruising can adjust speed and sometimes make minor maneuvers with the assistance and lane-keep assist and other systems, but future vehicles may be able to drive themselves completely. Other tech under this banner includes parking assistance, traffic sign recognition, and even driver attention monitoring, to name just a few.

Why You Should Consider Buying a Safe SUV

Well, this is a pretty easy question to answer: the safest SUVs and crossover models will ensure you and your precious cargo arrive at your destination unharmed. Not only should these cars be strong and protect occupants in the event of a collision, but they should help prevent these to begin with. Some things to consider when it comes to buying a safe SUV:

Pros

High reliability expectations
Ideal for families
Loads of driver assists make them easy to drive
Many options to choose from - small, midsize, and large
Luxurious and comfortable

Cons

Tons of features can make a large vehicle obscenely heavy
Prices can get out of hand quickly
Too much tech can get confusing or overwhelming

FAQs

Which SUV is safest in a crash?

As these cars are supposed to carry your family around, they are generally well-equipped with safety features, but some are better specced than others. The following have scored most highly in safety reviews:

Buick Enclave
Kia Sorento
Volvo XC60
Hyundai Tucson
Honda CR-V
Ford Expedition.

What SUV has a 5-star safety rating?

Across the various classifications, quite a few models have managed to impress the NHTSA to the point that they were awarded a 5-star rating. The top safest SUVs include:

Ford Explorer
Cadillac XT6
Mazda CX-3, CX-5, CX-9 and CX-30
Audi e-tron
Hyundai Palisade
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

What SUVs are the most dangerous?

SUVs, in general, offer large crumple zones and the basics in safety tech, at the very least. Mid-tier and top-end models tend to have the most advanced features as standard, so always check what’s included in your specification or add on some options, where possible. The biggest risk when driving a high-rider is that of tipping over, usually when taking a corner too fast. Be sure to check out the NHTSA safety ratings and pay particular attention to rollover scores.

Are SUVs safer than cars?

The answer to this question is not straightforward. Many people assume that due to size and weight, SUVs are automatically safer. But it really depends on many things, including the number of safety features and driver assists which your vehicle is fitted with, the construction of the vehicle itself, and the type of accident you’re involved in.

Will an SUV protect my children in an accident?

Naturally the idea is to protect all passengers on board, but children are particularly susceptible to injury and even ejection from the vehicle. All the driver assists and safety features in the world cannot protect children that are incorrectly transported - make sure infants, toddlers, and children under 12 are securely strapped into the correct car seat for their age/weight. All passengers should wear seatbelts all of the time.

Top Safest SUVs of 2022

List of the Top Safest SUVs for 2021