Safest New Cars Under $35,000, According to Consumer Reports' Experts

Below, we’ve listed the cars and SUVs with the lowest starting prices that also earned the highest score in our safety verdict evaluation. (Cars appear below in ascending order by base price.)

“Safety shouldn’t be a luxury,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports. “We think every automaker should offer the same level of safety regardless of price point, whether that be to help you avoid a crash or protect you during a crash.”

Although the average new car sells for around $50,000, all of these vehicles have starting prices below $35,000. The least expensive model starts at $24,115 before adding the destination charge. The list below is free, but Consumer Reports members can see even more, including our exclusive road test and reliability data. Many of the vehicles listed below are CR Recommended. Recommended vehicles must excel in owner satisfaction, road tests, and reliability, among other factors.

Regardless of your budget, Thomas recommends buying as much safety as you can afford. And don’t assume that more expensive vehicles are safer. “Some new luxury models have confusing controls or long braking distances,” she says. “On the other hand, many lower-priced used models have automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, and top scores in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests.”