What Cars Have the Best Safety Features?

The great safety race is raging among automakers, and that’s a good thing for drivers. In addition to classic and federally required features, such as high-quality seatbelts, airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction control, brands everywhere are stepping up to the plate with advanced safety features to assist and protect occupants. From everyday sedans to sports cars and luxury SUVs, there are dozens of cars for sale near Mount Pleasant that will do a fine job in tense moments.

You don’t want just okay safety, though. You want the best. Which cars are the cream of the crop for advanced, practical, and useful safety features? The team at Hendrick Automotive Group works with many different vehicle manufacturers, so we’ve seen a lot in the safety department. We’ve compiled a list of ten excellent cars to consider when safety features are your top priority.

Volvo XC90

As one of the leading luxury names with a well-known commitment to vehicle safety, it’s no surprise a Volvo would make the top of this list. The XC90 three-row crossover is our favorite of the group, with fully loaded driver-assistance technology that ranges from road sign information to a 360-degree camera view. One of our favorite features is the adaptive cruise control, which includes lane-centering assistance and maintains a safe following distance. The vehicle excels in every other safety aspect as well.

Hyundai IONIQ 6

Do you want to go fully electric while enjoying great safety performance? The Hyundai IONIQ 6 combines traditional sedan design with cutting-edge technology across the board. A whopping 14 standard SmartSense safety features are included, highlighted by stop-and-go smart cruise control, intelligent speed limit assistance, driver attention warnings, and highway driving assistance. There are plenty of upgrades available, such as Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, which can parallel or diagonally park your vehicle even when you’re not in it.

Genesis GV80

Next up is this midsize SUV from Hyundai’s luxury division, which takes advanced safety to a level rarely before seen. Some of the best standard features include advanced rear occupant alerts, which utilize radar to notify drivers if someone is still in the back seat, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, which helps prevent impacts when backing out of a parking spot. On higher trim levels, you’ll find a blind-spot viewing monitor, side parking distance warnings, and Highway Driving Assist 2, which maintains a preset speed and following distance.

Honda Civic

You don’t need a high-end vehicle to experience premium safety performance. Whether you get a sedan, hatchback, or sport model, this venerable compact is stuffed to the gills with advanced features. The Honda Sensing Suite of safety technology includes features you’d expect in luxury cars, such as traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping with traffic jam assistance, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed following. There’s also braking assistance with electronic distribution for fast, efficient stops. Honda’s reputation for value means that Mount Pleasant drivers get a great deal for the protection they deserve.

Subaru Outback

Arguably the first and most famous “sport utility wagon,” this adventure stalwart is a welcome addition to the top safety tier, for more than just the optimized traction of Symmetrical AWD. Newer models offer hands-free highway driving assistance, which can automatically detect curves and slow down accordingly. Another cool feature is emergency stopping assistance, which automatically brings the vehicle to a stop at the side of the road if the driver fails to respond to alerts. Lane change assistance, acceleration override assistance, and automatic emergency steering are some of the other top feature picks.

Toyota Camry

Another sedan with a sterling reputation, Toyota recently overhauled the Camry’s safety technology to put it back at the head of the pack. Its standard loadout ranges from a simple backup camera to advanced features such as hill start control, dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. Proactive driving assistance is another excellent standard feature that helps manage following distance and cornering speed. The Premium Plus package features top-of-the-line capabilities, including a 360-degree camera, traffic jam assistance, parking assistance, and lane change assistance.

Mazda3

The legendary Mazda3 is the pinnacle of sporty near-luxury at a great price, and this more-for-less philosophy also applies to safety. Along with the highest possible crash test results from the IIHS and NHTSA, the hatchback and sedan variants are equipped with premier safety technology. The Mazda i-ACTIVSENSE suite encompasses a wide range of features, including vehicle exit warnings, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, driver fatigue monitoring, and more. In our opinion, the best feature is Cruising and Traffic Support, an advanced dynamic cruise control that operates effectively in conditions ranging from Mount Pleasant's rush-hour traffic to Interstate 526.
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Audi Q7

For a second three-row SUV to make the list, it must be special in the safety department, and the Audi Q7 qualifies. Audi recognizes that one of the key safety factors is visibility, so each Q7 now comes with digital Matrix LED headlights and OLED taillights, providing astounding nighttime brightness. An advanced design is available that uses Audi laser light for focused spotlights and offers programmable daytime running lights. The rest of the safety features are also top-notch, including adaptive cruise control, intersection assistance, a 360-degree camera, remote self-parking, and more.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Every Mercedes-Benz is a great safety pick, but if we had to choose just one, it would be the C-Class sedan. It offers a full array of excellent safety features, combining the best capability and value. Those features include a special driver assistance package that elevates your drive by using navigation-based adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, stop-and-go traffic assistance, and emergency evasive steering. New for 2025, Mercedes-Benz has also added a unique center airbag to prevent the driver and front passenger from knocking into each other during an accident.

Tesla Model 3

It’s easy to overlook, but Tesla has been just as much a pioneer in safety as in electric vehicle (EV) technology. Numerous crash-avoidance features come standard with every Model 3, utilizing a combination of cameras, radar, and software to prevent collisions. A Full Self-Driving mode combines features like autosteer and traffic-sensing cruise control into a comprehensive hands-free model that can operate in residential areas as well as on highways. Also noteworthy is that Tesla’s over-the-air software updates can include updates to existing safety features or new features in development, such as multi-collision braking.

Finding a Safe Vehicle

Whether it’s for yourself, family, friends, or co-workers, Mount Pleasant drivers need a vehicle that gets them to their destination safely. The ten vehicles we’ve discussed combine impressive safety features with the right level of performance and comfort tailored to your needs. Just as importantly, these vehicles get the basics right beyond the fancy technology. They all have strong crash safety ratings from independent testing organizations, and the drivetrains, stability calibrations, braking systems, and tires are designed to keep you on the road.

Visit a local Hendrick Automotive Group store or shop online to find a vehicle that you feel confident driving. Thanks to our nationwide dealership network, all the top vehicle names are available for delivery to Mount Pleasant. Choose a new or pre-owned vehicle that has the safety features you demand at a price you can afford. With Hendrick Fast Pass, you can do everything online from the comfort of your own home, including browsing our inventory, personalizing your monthly payment, applying for competitive financing, and selecting the right Hendrick Autoguard protection plan.