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When it comes to buying a car, buyers often assume they have to sacrifice safety for affordability. However, that’s not necessarily the case, and with NHTSA coming up with ever-stricter safety tests, modern-day cars are safer than ever.
But just how safe are they exactly? A recent study by Dolman Law determined the 10 safest vehicles under $22,000. These are models that are still being produced and can be purchased brand-new, but the models have been around for a few years, making it possible to acquire quantitative data.
Why $22,000?
The price-point parameter isn’t chosen at random. For 2025, the average amount US buyers have spent on used vehicles (so far) is $25,373, according to Edmunds. This includes high-end vehicles, which cost considerably more, so the $22,000 figure seems realistic for more mass-produced models.
The methodology of the study
Two parameters were chosen to determine vehicle safety ratings. One of them is the number of fatal crashes, relative to the cars sold, which makes up 60 percent of the score. The other is the crash-test ratings, which account for the other 40 percent of a vehicle’s safety score.
According to the study, the Lexus NX is the safest vehicle under $22,000. The model scores 99 out of 100 points, and has an overall crash test score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The average price of $21,000 at the time of writing this. According to data from 2023, there have been only two fatal accidents involving a Lexus NX. With 74,526 units sold, this was the model’s best production year, almost matched by 2024 (74,488 cars).
This amounts to 2.68 fatal incidents per 100,000 sold vehicles, making the NX statistically the safest vehicle you can buy. The compact luxury SUV has been around since 2014 and remains a popular pick in the US. From 2021, the engine lineup became more focused on hybrid propulsion. According to IIHS, the Lexus NX scores “Good” (top score) in almost all crash tests, aside from the updated small overlap frontal crash test (one of the harshest tests), where it scores “Average”.
Other notable highlights of the study
Acura RDX takes second place on the list. At $19,000, the RDX is $2,000 more affordable on average, but with only 39,228 units sold in 2023, it isn’t nearly as popular as its rival, the Lexus NX. Luckily, the Acura RDX model enjoyed increased demand in 2024, with 42,998 units sold, according to GCBC.
It also scores slightly higher than the Lexus, on the crash tests, with an overall score of 4.75, but the fatal crashes are 5.1 per 100,000 sold cars, although annual crashes, according to 2023 data, match the Lexus’s two.
To no surprise, Toyota and Lexus models make half of the list. The Lexus RX, Toyota Corolla, Highlander, and the previous-generation 4Runner are also on the list. Mazda 3 is also among the top 10 safest cars, but scores the third-highest number of fatal accidents per 100,000 cars sold at 9.83.
The list is rounded up with the Honda CR-V, which has an overall crash-test score of 4.75 out of the maximum 5 points. Although it also ranks among the safest vehicles, it scores the highest fatality rate on the list, with 36 fatal crashes according to 2023 data, and 9.96 fatal accidents per 100,000 sold vehicles.
Here’s how the full Top 10 safest vehicles list looks
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Lexus NX: Price – $21,000, Average crash test rating – 4.5/5, Annual fatal crashes – 2, Annual sales (2023) – 74,526, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 2.68, Car reliability score – 99/100
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Acura RDX: Price – $19,000, Average crash test rating – 4.75/5, Annual fatal crashes – 2, Annual sales (2023) – 39,228, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 5.1, Car reliability score – 97/100
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Toyota Highlander: Price – $20,000, Average crash test rating – 4.5/5, Annual fatal crashes – 9, Annual sales (2023) – 171,289, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 5.25, Car reliability score – 96/100
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Lexus RX: Price – $20,500, Average crash test rating – 4.25/5, Annual fatal crashes – 5, Annual sales (2023) – 114,033, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 4.38, Car reliability score – 95/100
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Toyota Corolla: Price – $19,250, Average crash test rating – 4.75/5, Annual fatal crashes – 17, Annual sales (2023) – 232,369, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 7.32, Car reliability score – 92/100
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Hyundai Kona: $ Price – $18,750, Average crash test rating – 4.25/5, Annual fatal crashes – 6, Annual sales (2023) – 79,116, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 6, Car reliability score – 91/100
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Toyota Highlander: Price – $21,000, Average crash test rating – 4.25/5, Annual fatal crashes – 9, Annual sales (2023) – 109,951, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 9, Car reliability score – 88/100
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Mazda 3: Price – $18,580, Average crash test rating – 5/5, Annual fatal crashes – 3, Annual sales (2023) – 30,531, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 9.83, Car reliability score – 87/100
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Honda Fit: Price – $18,000, Average crash test rating – 4.75/5, Annual fatal crashes – 6, Annual sales (2022) – 60,473, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 9.92, Car reliability score – 86/100
- Honda CR-V: Price – $20,250, Average crash test rating – 4.75/5, Annual fatal crashes – 36, Annual sales (2023) – 361,457, Fatal crashes per 100,000 sold cars – 9.96, Car reliability score – 85/100
Why would a Law group be interested in car safety ratings?
Actually, it makes perfect sense. Having positive reviews from Associate injury lawyers is important for both the carmaker and car buyers. Reviews like this one help identify whether vehicle defects or design laws have contributed to injuries, be it fatal or non-fatal. In this regard, investigating vehicle reliability helps lawyers determine if vehicle crashworthiness has deteriorated following an accident or has led to worsened injuries. In turn, this helps determine whether clients are eligible for product liability claims.
In conclusion
There is not a single European model in the top 10 safest vehicles. Not even the safety-obsessed Volvo or the technologically advanced Mercedes models are present here. The list is almost entirely dominated by Japanese models, with a small Korean presence in the Hyundai Kona.
Toyota Corolla continues to be the most sold non-SUV model in the US, despite some owners questioning the current generation’s reliability. Despite being at the bottom of the list, the Honda CR-V continues to be one of the most popular Japanese SUVs, with 2024 seeing an almost 11-percent increase in sales from 2023.
Dimitar Angelov’s automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov’s car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image sources: 2025 Lexus NX press release, 2024 Toyota Highlander press release, 2024 Mazda 3 press release
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Source: torquenews.com
