Requirements

• All used and new vehicles on the list have average or better scores (3 out of 5) from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling. They also have usability scores of at least 2 out of 5 for controls and displays, meaning the models with the most confusing and distracting setups are excluded.
• Listed vehicles also provide strong protection in a crash, based on IIHS testing. For used vehicles, this means a good rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, which was introduced in 2012. This test was one of the final evaluations in the original series of IIHS crashworthiness tests, which also looked at side crash protection, roof strength and head restraints.
• In recent years, most of the original tests were phased out, in some cases replaced with more challenging ones. The small overlap remains in the current IIHS test line-up, making it a good proxy for comparing overall crashworthiness of vehicles of different ages.
• When it comes to features that help avoid a crash, all listed vehicles have standard electronic stability control, which has been mandatory since the 2012 model year.
• Models in the top tier of used vehicles, designated as Best Choices, come with headlights that earn a good or acceptable rating from IIHS across all trim levels. They also have standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection that performs well in daytime IIHS track tests. In addition to reducing the risk of a pedestrian crash, AEB helps drivers avoid rear-ending another vehicle. The technology is useful for everyone but can be particularly helpful for young, inexperienced drivers, who may be prone to distraction.