10 Safest Luxury Cars For 2022
With all the different options on the market today, buying a new car or truck can be a daunting task. Whenever most people decide to buy a new car, they commonly consider the budget, utility value, cost of ownership, running costs, and even the resale value as the essential factors. However, determining vehicle safety is arguably one of the more critical factors during the new car purchase process.
Unfortunately, most people equate vehicle safety with the presence of certain vehicle safety features or technologies rather than the car’s crash test results or crashworthiness. New buyers can determine the car’s safety rating and how it earned them through trusted safety organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). But, fishing through all that information for vehicles with the best ratings can be tedious and stressful. We’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of some luxury cars ranked among the top safety picks for 2022.
10 Volvo S90
Volvo’s premium S90 flagship sedan is a formidable competitor in its segment, since it delivers a minimalist Scandinavian style that strays away from the dominant German models. However, the S90 foregoes sportiness, favoring an extensive profile with a cossetting cabin that’s great for a quiet, comfortable, and relaxed ride.
The Volvo S90 received an IIHS top safety pick that consists of ‘Good’ ratings across all crashworthiness tests and a ‘Superior’ rating for its standard vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention system. However, IIHS awarded the large sedan a lowered ‘Advanced’ rating for its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian crash avoidance and mitigation system.
9 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
As we wait for the redesigned 2022 model later in the year, the 2021 C-Class is still an excellent entry-luxury option that falls in the sweet spot between sporty and soft. The current generation is near the end of its life cycle, but the exterior styling and interior design have aged well, with plenty of modern technology to maintain its premium appeal.
The IIHS included the C-Class among its top safety picks, awarding the sedan ‘Good’ overall ratings for crashworthiness and child seat anchors. Despite the ‘Basic’ rating for standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems, the C-Class was awarded a ‘Superior’ rating for its crash avoidance and mitigation systems. The C-Class also received five-star NHTSA ratings overall and for side crash safety, while frontal crash and rollover safety received solid four-star ratings.
8 Lexus ES 350
The Lexus ES 350 has enjoyed incremental upgrades that have kept it fresh since its 2019 model year redesign. Although it sacrifices the athleticism typical in premium rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6, the ES 350 is an effortless cruiser that delivers a subtle and comfortable form of luxury that appeals to many enthusiasts.
Besides the superior comfort, the 2022 Lexus ES 350 was awarded a top IIHS safety pick for its ‘Good’ crashworthiness and child seat anchor ratings, not forgetting the ‘Advanced’ to ‘Superior’ ratings in crash avoidance and mitigation system tests. NHTSA awarded the ES 350 five-star ratings overall, despite receiving four-star ratings for frontal crash and rollover safety.
7 Kia Stinger
With Kia making the GT-Line standard amid false rumors of its discontinuation, the first-generation Stinger is now as stylish for 2022 as ever. The facelift for the 2022 model year sees the sporty luxury sedan gain a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four capable of 300hp and 311lb-ft of torque.
The 2022 Kia Stinger earned an IIHS top safety pick for an overall ‘Good’ rating in crashworthiness and ‘Advanced’ to ‘Superior’ ratings for its crash avoidance and mitigation systems. The large Kia sedan also performs favorably in NHTSA’s safety tests, with a five-star rating overall. However, the rating drops slightly to four stars for frontal crash safety.
6 Acura TLX
Acura redesigned the TLX for the last model year, and the 2022 model is now a solid entry in the midsize luxury sedan category. Although it understandably carries over unchanged, it boasts good features-per-dollar value compared to the competition in its class.
The 2022 Acura TLX is among the IIHS top safety picks, with ‘Good’ ratings across the board for crashworthiness and ‘Superior’ ratings for its crash avoidance and mitigation systems. Furthermore, the sedan ranks highly in NHTSA safety tests, with an overall five-star rating across all safety categories.
5 Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 may have a restrained yet elegant outward appearance, but its unique Scandinavian interior is one of the most impressive in its class. In addition to spoiling its passengers with luxury, the S60 boasts mellow powertrain options that are fuel-efficient and quick.
The Volvo S60 received IIHS’ top safety pick, with a ‘Good’ rating for crashworthiness and a ‘Superior’ rating for its crash avoidance and mitigation systems. On the other hand, NHTSA awarded the S60 an overall five-star rating, five stars for side crash and rollover safety, and a four-star rating from frontal crash tests.
4 Audi A6
Despite being one of the priciest luxury sedans in its class, the Audi A6 exudes style, performance, and technology in equal measure. The sedan boasts an abundance of comfort and an attractive interior, with fine Audi quality abound.
The IIHS rates the A6 as a top safety pick since it scores ‘Good’ ratings across the board for crashworthiness, crash avoidance, and crash mitigation. Besides a four-star rating in frontal crash tests, the Audi A6 boasts an impressive five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
3 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
After a 2021 model year refresh, the E-Class arrived for 2022 with minimal changes. Nonetheless, there’s a lot to love about the E-Class, including a seamlessly classy and plush interior, high-class quality material, cutting-edge technology, and an effortlessly efficient powertrain for the E450 model.
Like the C-Class model, the E-Class received a ‘Basic’ rating from the IIHS for its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system. Nonetheless, the E-Class had ‘Good’ ratings for crashworthiness and child seat anchors and ‘Superior’ ratings for other crash avoidance and mitigation systems. The NHTSA awarded the Mercedes-Benz E-Class an excellent five-star safety rating across all categories on the board.
2 Genesis G80
The midsize G80 sedan has gradually climbed the ranks in its segment by undercutting BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz to put savings back in people’s pockets. Surprisingly, Genesis doesn’t compromise on exterior design, posh interior quality, and space for the lower price.
The 2022 Genesis G80 is an IIHS top safety pick, receiving a ‘Good’ rating for crashworthiness and ‘Superior’ for its crash avoidance and mitigation systems. If that’s not impressive enough, the G80 also received a five-star NHTSA rating on all safety tests.
1 Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is currently one of the best-selling EVs on the market today, offering an ideal blend of pricing, performance, and driving range. With batteries fitted under the floor, the Model 3 has a low center of gravity that is good for crisp direction change, a planted ride, stability around corners, and well-weighted accurate steering.
Tesla markets the Model 3 as the safest car globally, and the IIHS seems to concur. The Model 3 received a top safety pick for ‘Good’ overall crashworthiness ratings and ‘Superior’ ratings on all its crash avoidance and mitigation systems. NHTSA also approves of the Model 3’s safety, awarding it five-star ratings across all safety categories.
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