The Safest Cars In America From $20k-$30k – CarBuzz

Looking for a safe car doesn’t mean breaking the bank. At one point, buying a cheap vehicle meant you gave up the protection afforded by much larger models, a tradeoff many buyers had no choice but to make. Today, however, thanks to our stringent crash regulations and advancements made by automakers, even some of the cheapest cars on the market offer stellar safety, and many of these vehicles have been given the top designations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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The institute’s top designation is Top Safety Pick+, which differs from Top Safety Pick by evaluating models using all the same criteria plus an updated moderate front overlap test. While cars with this designation are determined to be some of the safest on the road, the institute does note that there’s no replacement for size, and a larger vehicle may often be safer than a smaller vehicle with a higher rating, especially when they crash into each other. We’ve used this information to create a list of ten vehicles that offer the most safety, priced between $20,000 and $30,000, giving you peace of mind while saving some money at the dealership.

1 Honda Civic Sedan

The Honda Civic is a perennial favorite thanks to offering a fantastic list of features and performance for a reasonable price. It’s also one of the last few models on sale with a manual transmission, making it a bit of a unicorn in the marketplace. Opting for the higher-performance Si variant will get you this manual transmission plus the potent 200-hp turbocharged engine. While having fun, just know you’ll be safe thanks to its strong construction and a long list of safety features courtesy of the Honda Sensing suite.

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2 Mazda 3 Hatchback and Sedan

The Mazda 3, in either sedan or hatchback body style, offers a more refined and upscale experience than many expect at this price point. Mazda has always taken a slightly different approach to its cars than others, focusing more on the driving experience and looks over fuel economy and the latest technology, and it’s allowed the company to carve out a little niche for itself. What’s even better, is that the Mazda 3 has the safety to match its athleticism, garnering more awards than any of its competitors in recent years.

3 Toyota Prius

Known for its fuel efficiency, the Toyota Prius hybrid has finally grown into an attractive model after all of these years. It’s a car you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in anymore, and even better, you can get it with a potent powertrain that offers 196 horsepower, AWD, and 54 mpg combined. Add on to this the brand’s excellent Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 safety suite, and you have a near entry-level vehicle that won’t have you wishing you would have upgraded to a top trim.

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4 Honda Accord

If you’re looking for a mid-size sedan with a little more space, it’s hard to go wrong with the Honda Accord. This car has become a common sight on US roads thanks to its iconic reliability, safety, and comfortable demeanor. Its newest generation amplified all of these attributes while also adding a hybrid engine for improved fuel economy. To keep it to $30,000, however, you have to go with the regular 1.5L turbocharged gas engine, which still delivers respectable fuel economy, making it the perfect daily driver.

5 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry, a staple in the midsize sedan market, is all-new for 2025, and it’s the first time the model has qualified for the Top Safety Pick+ award. The model is different from before, but it’s still great value, especially if you opt for the base LE trim. This trim starts at just $28,400, and with it, you get exceptional fuel economy and 225 horsepower, but you can tack on AWD which bumps power up to 232 horsepower. It doesn’t matter which Camry trim you opt for, because it’s a fantastic, safe vehicle from top to bottom.

6 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V brings safety to the compact crossover segment in a spacious and comfortable package. Honda updated the model in 2023, giving its looks and technology much-needed upgrades as well as giving the vehicle a little more power. Unfortunately, it’s 158 horsepower is still down compared to competitors, especially because it also gained weight, and fuel economy isn’t as good as it should be to make up for it, while no hybrid is offered – yet. Still, if you’re looking for value, it has that in spades and would make a safe, reliable commuter.

7 Mazda CX-30

If it feels like the Mazda CX-30 is merely a lifted Mazda 3, you’d be right. Mazda took a page out of Subaru’s book and took what is essentially a small commuter hatchback, lifted it a few inches, added some body cladding, and started calling it a crossover. Are we upset? Certainly not, because out of all the vehicles in the subcompact crossover segment, the CX-30 may very well be the best driving and most attractive. It’s a sleek model, made all the better by also sharing Mazda’s penchant for safety.

8 Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona has grown up, but in doing so it’s lost some of the sportiness that the model once had. The newest generation was designed as an electric car first and foremost, so it benefits from an eye-catching exterior and a technology-laden interior, but all the gas powertrains are carryovers from before. We would opt for the potent turbocharged engine found in models like the N Line S, as its 190 horsepower will help to make the model feel lighter on its feet, and its great ratings will ensure your occupant’s safety.

9 Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson combines affordability with a strong safety rating that makes it a great choice for those needing a little more room. For 2025, the model got some work done, revising the exterior and updating the interior a bit but keeping the formula mostly the same. If it were up to us, we’d go with the more powerful and fuel-efficient hybrid version, but if you can’t afford that, then the base model does come with a great host of standard features, especially in the SEL trim, and enough power to not make it feel sluggish.

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10 Subaru Outback

For adventurous drivers, the Subaru Outback is a go-to choice, and it makes this list with a caveat. It’s the only model on this list that didn’t receive the Top Safety Pick+ award, instead only achieving the Top Safety Pick. The reason we’ve included it is because, as the largest model on this list, we wouldn’t be surprised if it performed better than most other smaller models, especially because Subaru is renowned for its safety. If you want to grab one anywhere close to or under $30,000, you’ll have to opt for the Base, which still gives you all the comfort, space, and clearance you expect from one of Subaru’s most iconic models.

Sources:


IIHS.com
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EPA
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