Electric vehicles have come a long way, but safety remains a top concern for many buyers. Evaluating the safest options can be tricky, but fear not, for we have compiled a comprehensive list of the ten safest electric cars of 2023 based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Our methodology is sound, and our top picks will put your mind at ease.
Safest Electric Cars of 2023 Definitions
Forward collision warning: Sensors detect potential collisions and alert the driver to take action.
Lane departure warning: Technology tracks EV’s movements and alerts the driver of unintentional lane changes.
Crash imminent braking: Crash-imminent braking system engages brakes to prevent or lessen the impact when the driver fails to act.
Dynamic Brake Support: Dynamic brake support helps prevent collisions when the driver doesn’t brake hard enough.
Overall safety rating: The safety rating includes evaluations for head-on collisions, side collisions, and rollovers. A vehicle with a five-star rating is the safest, while one with a one-star rating is the least safe.
Front driver crash rating: A vehicle’s front driver crash rating is determined by a frontal barrier test that simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each traveling at 35 mph. Vehicles with a higher star rating are safer than those with a lower rating.
Front passenger crash rating: The front passenger crash rating of a vehicle is determined through a frontal barrier test that replicates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each traveling at 35 mph. The safety of a vehicle is measured by the number of stars it receives; vehicles with a higher star rating are safer than those with a lower rating.
Side crash front seat rating: Simulates side crash front seat safety rating on a five-point scale, with higher scores indicating greater safety.
Side crash rear seat rating: Simulates safety rating for rear seat in side crashes on a 5-point scale. Higher scores indicate greater safety.
Rollover rating: The Rollover Resistance test measures a vehicle’s risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario. Vehicles with a higher star rating are safer than those with a lower rating.
Safest Electric Cars of 2023 Methodologies
When evaluating the safety of electric vehicles, it is crucial to consider both their listed crash test safety ratings and four essential safety features. Each dimension mentioned in the definitions section is given a specific weight. We only assess vehicles that NHTSA has evaluated, and these evaluations are limited to 2023 and 2024 models. If you want to see a dynamic version of this information, please use our needs-based search or visit a specific vehicle page.
Top Ten Safest Electric Cars of 2023
10. 2023 Volkswagen ID.4
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 4/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 4/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: No
9. 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Overall Safety Rating: Not tested
Front driver crash rating: Not tested
Front passenger crash rating: Not tested
Side crash front seat rating: Not tested
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 5/5
Forward collision warning: Yes (Optional)
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: Yes
7. 2023 Subaru Solterra (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 4/5
Front passenger crash rating: 5/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 4/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: Yes
7. 2023 Toyota BZ4K (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 4/5
Front passenger crash rating: 5/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 4/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: Yes
6. 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 5/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 4/5
Forward collision warning: Yes (Optional)
Lane departure warning: Yes (Optional)
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: Yes
3. 2023 Tesla Model 3 (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 5/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 5/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Not tested
Dynamic brake support: Not tested
3. 2023 Polestar 2 (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 5/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 5/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Not tested
Dynamic brake support: Not tested
3. 2023 Tesla Model Y (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 5/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 5/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Not tested
Dynamic brake support: Not tested
1. 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 4/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: 5/5
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: Yes
1. 2023 Kia EV6 (tie)
Overall Safety Rating: 5/5
Front driver crash rating: 5/5
Front passenger crash rating: 4/5
Side crash front seat rating: 5/5
Side crash rear seat rating: 5/5
Rollover rating: Not tested
Forward collision warning: Yes
Lane departure warning: Yes
Crash imminent braking: Yes
Dynamic brake support: Yes
As the electric vehicle industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see newer models equipped with advanced safety features. If you’re interested in owning an electric vehicle, please check out our FAQ section on ownership. It contains useful information to help you decide which EV is the best fit for your needs. We provide customized search results that include all the necessary details to determine the cost of owning an EV in your state. To find the perfect EV that meets your needs, we suggest using our EV search.