Our exclusive safety verdict is based on straightforward criteria: Cars that score Basic meet the bare minimum federal safety standards but lack the protections that CR says should be available to all consumers. Cars that score Better have several criteria above the minimum, but may not come standard with some features, may not have undergone some newer crash tests, or may have distracting controls. Cars that score Best excel in crash tests, come standard with key crash-prevention features, handle predictably, and don’t have distracting controls.
“A safe car has predictable handling and braking in everyday driving and emergencies, controls that don’t distract you, technology that can prevent a crash in the first place, and a design that protects occupants if a crash occurs,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports. “The safety verdict rating, now available for free on all new-car model pages at CR.org/cars, makes it simple for car owners and shoppers to understand the level of safety a car provides.”
Below, we’ve broken down what percentage of each major automaker’s lineup scores in each category. We’ve also shared the exact requirements for achieving Basic, Better, and Best.
See the complete safety verdict for every new car on the model pages, found via the pull-down menus at CR.org/cars or through the A-Z interactive ratings chart.
