Safest Electric Cars of 2023

People are often hesitant to invest in new technology, but time has shown that electric cars are some of the safest vehicles on the road, and their propensity to catch fire has been greatly exaggerated. In truth, some EVs have a place among the safest cars in the world, and considering these are vehicles at the forefront of automotive technology, they tend to come with loads of standard safety features and advanced driver assists.

This is a list of the safest electric cars in the USA for 2023, based on our internal ratings and evaluations from local authorities.

BuzzScore
Design
Performance
MPG
Interior
Infotainment
Reliability
Safety
Value
#1
2024 Cadillac Lyriq
9.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#2
2023 Kia EV6
#2
Kia EV6
9.5
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#3
2023 Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo
9.5
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
10
MPG
10
Interior
9
Infotainment
10
Reliability
10
Safety
7
Value
#4
2023 Tesla Model S Plaid
9.4
BuzzScore
9
Design
10
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#5
2024 Porsche Taycan
9.4
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
10
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#6
2023 Porsche Taycan Turbo
9.4
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
9
MPG
10
Interior
9
Infotainment
10
Reliability
10
Safety
7
Value
#7
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
9.1
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#8
2023 Genesis GV60
9.1
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
10
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#9
2024 BMW i5
#9
BMW i5
9.1
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#10
2023 Tesla Model S
9.1
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#11
2023 Tesla Model X Plaid
9.1
BuzzScore
7
Design
10
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#12
2023 Audi e-tron GT
9.1
BuzzScore
9
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#13
2024 BMW i7
#13
BMW i7
9.1
BuzzScore
7
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#14
2023 Audi RS e-tron GT
9.1
BuzzScore
9
Design
10
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
7
Value
#15
2023 Mercedes-AMG EQS
9.1
BuzzScore
7
Design
10
Performance
10
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#16
2023 Tesla Model 3
9
BuzzScore
7
Design
10
Performance
10
MPG
8
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#17
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV
8.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#18
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
8.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#19
2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge
8.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#20
2023 Tesla Model Y
8.8
BuzzScore
7
Design
9
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
7
Value

Characteristics of the Safest Electric Vehicles

Safe cars come in every shape and size, from small hatchbacks to full-size SUVs. However, there are a few things they have in common.

  • They boast some of the best build quality
  • They come with a host of the latest safety systems
  • They still enjoy the performance and economy of an EV
  • They offer cutting-edge technology

What to Consider When Buying the Safest EVs

There are more electric cars on the US market than ever before, and they’re not all winners. So, what are the benefits and disadvantages of buying one of the models that rank highest in the safety ratings?

Pros

  • Perfect, or near-perfect, safety ratings
  • Plenty of advanced driver-assistance features
  • High fuel economy figures
  • Being reliable is a key focus
  • Loads of comfort and convenience features

Cons

  • Some experimental safety tech is hit and miss
  • High weight can make them unwieldy
  • Driving range is not always the best

FAQs

What are the best and safest EVs?

Unsurprisingly, it is one of the oldest names in EV tech that takes the crown. The Tesla Model 3 has a perfect safety rating from the NHTSA, with the Model Y scoring similarly. Pickup trucks are also known for their rugged durability, and the Rivian R1T proves that adding electric power doesn’t hurt their capabilities.

What features does the safest EV have?

You will always get the essentials like ABS or EBD, stability and traction control, and a host of airbags (as many as ten in some models). All of these cars also get forward collision avoidance tech, including detection and automatic braking, as well as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and often rear automatic braking. However, not all features are for the better, with semi-autonomous driving systems like Tesla’s Autopilot drawing a lot of negative attention from some agencies.

How much do the safest electric vehicles cost?

The price range varies quite a bit, with mainstream models like the Volkswagen ID.4 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 selling for north of $40,000, while the Subaru Solterra goes for $45,000. The Tesla Model 3 also asks for around $40k and the Model Y for $5k more.
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