The Safest Cars And Crossovers You Can Buy For Under $25,000

With the price of the average new vehicle now at around $37,000, affordability is a key concern among a growing number of car shoppers. Many buyers are turning to the used car market instead to stretch their automotive dollars. Unfortunately, older cars may lack important safety features, particularly forward automatic emergency braking that can help avoid or lessen the effects of a crash if the driver isn’t responding quickly enough.

Fortunately, forward auto-braking is fast finding its way into more-affordable cars and crossovers. In fact we found 11 vehicles – all of which have been designated a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – that either come standard with or can be equipped with forward auto-braking and sell for less than $25,000, including the automaker’s mandatory destination charge. The least expensive of the bunch is the compact Kia Forte sedan, which comes standard with a self-braking system for $18,715.

We’re featuring these models below, noting the retail cost of the least-expensive version equipped with forward auto-braking, and which other accident avoidance systems are included at that price.

To earn the Top Safety Pick+ designation, vehicles must earn “good” marks in all of the IIHS’ crashworthiness tests, including the driver- and passenger’s-side small overlap tests that simulate hitting a tree or light pole. They also offer “superior” rated accident avoidance systems that can automatically apply the brakes to avoid a crash or reduce speeds by at least 5 mph in two tests conducted at 12 and 25 mph. What’s more, they receive top ratings for standard or optional headlight performance.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that if installed on all vehicles, crash-avoidance technology could prevent more than 2.7 million crashes, 1.1 million injuries and nearly 9,500 deaths annually.

One caveat, however. Frontal crash test results can only be accurately compared among same-size vehicles. A top-rated compact car will not necessarily offer the same level of occupant protection as a larger sedan or SUV in a given forward collision. Side-impact tests, on the other hand, can be readily compared across vehicle size and weight classifications due to the manner in which they are conducted.

You can find full list of the IIHS’ Top Safety Picks for 2019, with and without the “Plus” designation here.

11 Safest Cars With Auto-Braking You Can Buy For Under $25,000

1. Honda Insight

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $23,725. Also included at this price are lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, high-beam assist, and adaptive cruise control systems.

2. Hyundai Elantra (2020)

Base price with standard forward auto braking $19,870. Also included at this price are lane keep assist and driver attention warning systems.

3. Hyundai Kona

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $21,035. Also included at this price are lane keep assist and driver attention warning systems.

4. Hyundai Tucson

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $24,245. Also included at this price are driver attention warning and lane keep assist systems.

5. Kia Forte

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $18,715. Also included at this price are lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and driver attention warning systems.

6. Kia Optima

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $23,915. Also included at this price are blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, lane keep assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, and lane departure warning systems.

7. Kia Soul (2020)

Base price $18,485; with available forward auto-braking $21,285. Auto-braking is included on all trim levels but the base model. Also included at this price are lane change assist, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and driver attention warning systems.

8. Subaru Crosstrek

Base price $22,870; with available forward auto-braking $24,715. Auto braking is included with the optional EyeSight Package (automatic transmission models only), which also includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist systems.

9. Subaru Impreza

Base price $19,840; with available forward auto-braking $21,325. Auto braking is included with the optional EyeSight Package (automatic transmission models only), which also includes adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning systems.

10. Subaru Legacy 

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $23,430. Also included at this price are adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist systems.

11. Toyota Camry

Base price with standard forward auto-braking $24,865. Also included at this price are lane departure and blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlamps, and adaptive cruise control systems.

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