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Safety First Crossover, Wagon

Safety-First

Safety rating-focused buyer

Spirit Animal: Volvo XC60/Subaru Outback
Shop Safety-First Vehicles
Safety-First lifestyle portrait
Rating
IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Crash
5-Star NHTSA
Assist
Full Driver-Aid Suite
Protection
10+ Airbags

Is this you?

You check IIHS and NHTSA ratings before you check the price.
Advanced driver-assistance features are requirements, not options.
You want every airbag and every sensor the manufacturer offers.
You're buying this car to protect your family, not impress anyone.
Not quite you? See related lifestyles

About This Driver

You researched crash test ratings before you researched cup holders. The right used SUV scores Top Safety Pick across multiple model years.


Top 7 Used SUVs for Safety rating-focused buyer

  1. #1  |  Subaru Forester

    Standard EyeSight (lane keep, adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking) from 2019 forward. IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in multiple model years.

    Shop used Subaru Forester below
  2. #2  |  Honda CR-V

    Honda Sensing (collision mitigation, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise) standard on most 2017 and newer trims.

    Shop used Honda CR-V below
  3. #3  |  Toyota RAV4

    Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 standard on all 2019+ trims. Includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection.

    Shop used Toyota RAV4 below
  4. #4  |  Subaru Outback

    Standard symmetrical AWD and EyeSight from 2019 forward. IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in multiple model years.

    Shop used Subaru Outback below
  5. #5  |  Hyundai Tucson

    Hyundai SmartSense (forward collision avoidance, lane keep, blind spot collision warning) on most 2022 and newer trims.

    Shop used Hyundai Tucson below
  6. #6  |  Hyundai Santa Fe

    Same Hyundai SmartSense suite as the Tucson, in a larger body with a bigger crumple zone.

    Shop used Hyundai Santa Fe below
  7. #7  |  Genesis GV70

    Most comprehensive standard driver assist of the picks here. Genesis Smart Sense includes highway driving assist on Advanced trims.

    Shop used Genesis GV70 below

Other Models to Consider

40 Used Safety-Focused SUVs for the Safety-First Driver

2025 Subaru Forester Limited
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2025 Subaru Forester

Forester Limited

15,130 mi $33,799

Wheel City Motors

Asheville, NC

2024 Hyundai Tucson SEL AWD
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2024 Hyundai Tucson

Tucson SEL AWD

33,431 mi $24,894

Inline Auto Sales / Karma

Fuquay-Varina, NC

2024 Honda CR-V EX
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2024 Honda CR-V

CR-V EX

100,882 mi $25,997

A Plus Autoz

Greensboro, NC

2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SEL
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2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

SANTA FE SEL

124,686 mi $18,489

Maness Motors, LLC

Rocky Mount, NC

2023 Hyundai Tucson SEL AWD
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2023 Hyundai Tucson

Tucson SEL AWD

11,499 mi $23,988

Parker Auto Sales of King, Inc

King, NC

2023 TOYOTA RAV4 XLE
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2023 TOYOTA RAV4

RAV4 XLE

108,646 mi $25,488

4042 Motorsports

Willow Springs, NC

2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium
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2023 Toyota RAV4

RAV4 XLE Premium

52,685 mi $31,899

Wheel City Motors

Asheville, NC

2022 HYUNDAI TUCSON SEL Convenience Hybrid AWD
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2022 HYUNDAI TUCSON

TUCSON SEL Convenience Hybrid AWD

109,678 mi $18,450

4042 Motorsports

Willow Springs, NC

2022 Honda CR-V EX 2WD
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2022 Honda CR-V

CR-V EX 2WD

117,160 mi $19,898

Perfect Ride

Smithfield, NC

2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE w/ Toyota Safety Sense
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2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

RAV4 Hybrid LE w/ Toyota Safety Sense

80,812 mi $25,749

Priority One Auto Sales of Burlington

Burlington, NC

2021 Hyundai Tucson Value
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2021 Hyundai Tucson

Tucson Value

109,674 mi $13,950

Patterson Auto Sales

Wilmington, NC

2021 Subaru Forester Premium AWD 4dr Crossover
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2021 Subaru Forester

Forester Premium AWD 4dr Crossover

112,536 mi $15,997

Phoenix Motors Inc

Raleigh, NC

2021 Hyundai Tucson SEL AWD
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2021 Hyundai Tucson

Tucson SEL AWD

93,900 mi $16,199

Pleasure Ride Auto, Inc

Greenville, NC

2021 Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum AWD
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2021 Volvo XC60

XC60 T5 Momentum AWD

114,615 mi $18,750

Lambdin PreOwned Auto Sales

Raleigh, NC

2021 Hyundai Tucson Ultimate AWD
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2021 Hyundai Tucson

Tucson Ultimate AWD

66,570 mi $19,988

Parker Auto Sales of King, Inc

King, NC

2021 SUBARU FORESTER Sport
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2021 SUBARU FORESTER

FORESTER Sport

63,569 mi $25,388

4042 Motorsports

Willow Springs, NC

2021 VOLVO XC60 T5 Inscription AWD
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2021 VOLVO XC60

XC60 T5 Inscription AWD

80,575 mi $25,488

4042 Motorsports

Willow Springs, NC

2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE
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2021 Toyota

RAV4 Hybrid XSE

120,651 mi $25,950

Balkcum Auto

Wilmington, NC

2020 Hyundai Tucson Value Sport Utility 4D
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2020 Hyundai Tucson

Tucson Value Sport Utility 4D

104,642 mi $12,999

New Era Motors

Winston-Salem, NC

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 2.4
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2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

Santa Fe SEL 2.4

124,410 mi $14,149

2267 Auto Sales

Greensboro, NC

2020 Hyundai SANTA FE SEL
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2020 Hyundai SANTA FE

SANTA FE SEL

120,923 mi $17,249

DeBruhl's Used Cars

Asheville, NC

2020 HYUNDAI TUCSON Sport
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2020 HYUNDAI TUCSON

TUCSON Sport

89,907 mi $18,488

4042 Motorsports

Willow Springs, NC

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T
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2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

Santa Fe Limited 2.0T

83,831 mi $19,900

Affordable Auto Sales of Goldsboro

Goldsboro, NC

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 2.4
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2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

Santa Fe SEL 2.4

34,054 mi $19,988

4042 Motors

Garner, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the safest used SUV to buy in North Carolina?

The Subaru Forester and Outback earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ratings most years, with standard EyeSight driver assist from 2019 forward. The Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Santa Fe also score IIHS Top Safety Pick credentials with strong standard safety tech.

What standard safety features should I look for in a used SUV?

Automatic emergency braking is the most impactful. Lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring are next. Adaptive cruise control matters for highway commuters. The 2019+ generations of the picks above have these standard - earlier model years often required optional packages.

What's the difference between IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+?

Top Safety Pick+ requires Good ratings on all six crashworthiness tests, Advanced or Superior ratings on front crash prevention, plus Good or Acceptable headlight ratings on every trim. Top Safety Pick is the same but without the headlight requirement. Both are strong safety credentials.

Are luxury SUVs safer than mainstream ones?

Not necessarily. The Forester, CR-V, RAV4, Outback, and Tucson regularly outscore much more expensive luxury SUVs in IIHS testing. Luxury SUVs like the Genesis GV70 include more advanced standard driver assist, but mainstream picks meet the same crashworthiness standards.

How do I check a used SUV's safety rating?

Search the IIHS website by year, make, and model. The IIHS publishes detailed test results including which trim levels earned Top Safety Pick credentials. NHTSA also publishes 5-star safety ratings. Cross-reference both before buying - some trims meet Top Safety Pick while others on the same vehicle don't.