10 of the Safest Cars Under $25,000

2017 volkswagen passat front view ・ Photo by Volkswagen

If you’re looking for occupant protection on a budget, the safest cars under $25,000 are an excellent place to begin. All have top safety ratings from either NHTSA or the IIHS, and many have strong scores from each group. That means these choices can offer both relatively robust construction and some surprising driver-assistance technologies. On the other hand, based on our price ceiling, almost all are compact cars or smaller. Many midsize sedans open under $25,000, yet they require optional, extra-cost equipment to earn the highest third-pay safety scores. Unfortunately, this makes them too expensive for our tastes today. The two mid-sizers to make our list? That’s another surprise.

1) 2017 Volkswagen Passat

The 2017 Volkswagen Passat stands out as the only midsize sedan in entry-level trim that earns both a Top Safety Pick certification from the IIHS and a 5 Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA. And since the MSRP for that entry trim is an affordable $22,440, the Passat also qualifies as the only midsize choice among our safest cars under $25K. Standard tech features give the Passat the advantage. Forward collision warning and automatic forward braking, along with previously standard resources like a rear-view camera and VW’s Post-Collision Braking System, are a few of its many options for safety. This technology is designed to help prevent secondary collisions by automatically applying the brakes anytime there’s an airbag deployment.

Photo by Volkswagen

2) 2017 Toyota Yaris iA

There’s also just a single subcompact that pulls off the NHTSA/IIHS double-play: That’s the 2017 Toyota Yaris iA, which, to be clear, matches the Passat with a 5 Star Overall Safety Score and a Top Safety Pick certification in its entry-level trim. Of course, the iA does so as the least expensive of the safest cars under $25,000. Its starting price is a mere $15,950 — or $17,050 with an automatic transmission — and that includes standard IIHS-approved front-crash avoidance technology. At that MSRP, the iA has a rear-view camera, too, plus a seven-inch touchscreen-based multimedia system with voice recognition, Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming, multiple USB ports, and interfaces for Pandora, Aha, and Stitcher Internet radio.

Photo by Toyota

3) 2017 Toyota Corolla

In the compact segment, the 2017 Toyota Corolla leads the safest cars under $25K with a unique distinction of its own: The Corolla is the only vehicle here with a full Top Safety Pick+ recognition in its standard trim. The difference-makers for the Toyota are its standard LED projector-style headlamps, which passed the rigorous new IIHS test for forward illumination. The Corolla also checks in with a 5 Star Safety Score from NHTSA and standard driver-assistance technologies like a rearview camera, a pre-collision system with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Meanwhile, the Corolla starts at $18,500, and that’s with a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Photo by Toyota

4) 2017 Honda Civic

Like all of the safest cars under $25K, the 2017 Honda Civic has received excellent test scores from both the IIHS and NHTSA. Further, even though the Civic doesn’t come standard with the Honda Sensing safety technology, that bundle can be ordered as part of a $1,000 upgrade package and added to the Civic LX. With a continuously variable transmission, for a total cost of $20,540; that’s for the sedan, but the comparable hatchback edition is a little less, at $20,500. The bottom line in both cases: Drivers benefit from road-departure mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, collision-mitigation braking, and adaptive cruise control — and a standard rearview camera — with impressive affordability. The Civic then extends its customer appeal with a sporty two-door body style.

Photo by Honda

5) 2017 Subaru Impreza

The safest cars under $25,000 from Subaru include the brand’s compact entry, the 2017 Subaru Impreza. The Impreza matches the Civic with sedan and hatchback body styles, while also featuring a fairly comprehensive safety package. For the Impreza, that’s the Eyesight bundle that brings adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-departure and sway alert, and lane-keeping. Now, the Impreza is a bit pricier than a comparable Civic, and the EyeSight-equipped sedan has an MSRP of $23,410. Yet remember, the Impreza has standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, and as regards its safety grades, the Subaru not only has a full Top Safety Pick+ recognition, it also has a 5 Star Overall Safety Score with 5 Stars in all crash tests.

Photo by Subaru

6) 2017 Toyota Prius

At least one of the safest cars under $25K — the 2017 Toyota Prius — puts the same focus on fuel efficiency as it does on driver assistance. As a result, it carries class-leading ratings from the IIHS, NHTSA, and the EPA. To be exact, 2017 Prius models built after August 2016 come standard with Top Safety Pick+ certification, a 5-Star Overall Safety Score, and fuel-economy grades of 54 mpg city/50 mpg highway/52 mpg combined. The price of a Prius also squeaks in under our limit, at $24,685, although that does cover a standard Safety Sense P package with pre-collision braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. A rear-view camera is standard as well.

Photo by Toyota

7) 2017 Volkswagen Golf

Another of VW’s safest cars under $25,000 is the compact 2017 Volkswagen Golf. This nimble five-door hatchback has a 5 Star Overall Safety Score right out of the box, and its range-topping Wolfsburg edition—named after the German city where VW has its global HQ—has a Top Safety Pick Rating. Beyond a $1,700 price increase over the entry-level S trim, the uplevel Golf also delivers forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert as additional standard equipment. Both trims have a standard rearview camera. Also included in the cost of the Wolfsburg edition, which starts at $21,595, are VW’s V-Tex leatherette seats, a heated front row, keyless access, push-button ignition, and exclusive Wolfsburg floormats.

Photo by Volkswagen

8) 2017 Volkswagen Jetta

As for VW’s compact sedan, it’s also one of the safest cars under $25,000 — but only before taxes and fees. That’s because the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta SEL trim is needed to qualify for today’s list, and this top Jetta model wears a starting sticker price of $24,995. The flip side to that relatively high cost, however, is premium standard content such as forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and rain-sensing wipers. Nor is there any shortage of lux-style amenities in this trim, as the Jetta SEL also counts navigation, a dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, and an up-range turbocharged engine as just some of its standard content.

Photo by Volkswagen

9) 2017 Nissan Sentra

The 2017 Nissan Sentra provides an example of how some customers may have to balance their priorities when shopping for the safety cars under $25K. After all, the Sentra may earn a Top Safety Pick rating with its Premium Technology Package on board, but the compact sedan then took home a 4-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA. Regarding what customers take home with that Sentra model, an MSRP of $24,695 brings a power moonroof, leather-appointed seats, a six-way power adjustable driver’s chair, Bose premium audio, a NissanConnect navigation and infotainment system, and plenty of safety tech. Among the highlights: forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning.

Photo by Nissan

10) 2017 Kia Optima

The second mid-sizer on our list of safest cars under $25,000 is the 2017 Kia Optima. Now, the Optima can’t quite squeeze in below our $25K price limit and achieve a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS at the same time, but it can ace all of the institute’s crashworthiness evaluations. Then, it also has a 5 Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA with 5 Stars in every facet of testing. It’s further worth noting that with the Driver Convenience Plus Package, Optima owners can enjoy a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert, all for an easy-on-the-wallet cost of $23,900. Moreover, that same package supplies a UVO infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.

Photo by Kia