SUVs and minivans can offer exceptional safety. Here are the top five of 2022.
By Steven Lang
Jan 19, 2023
Genesis
Article QuickTakes:
More than two dozen SUVs and minivans—ranging from the barely mid-size Tesla Model Y to family favorites such as the bestselling Toyota Sienna—now offer three-row seating and solid safety scores.
That’s a lot to choose from. We want to simplify your decision. With that in mind, here are the five best-performing family three-row vehicles.
2022 Genesis GV80
Crash avoidance is all about not getting yourself into dangerous situations, and in that regard, the Genesis GV80 is a standout, offering top-level protection. The standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system brakes quickly in emergencies, while the Driver Attention Warning can alert a drowsy or distracted driver when it may be time to stop and take a break.
The GV80 has a stellar safety record, having earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The MSRP for this luxury midsize SUV begins at around a reasonable $57,000.
Tesla
2022 Tesla Model Y
Tesla has been leading a renaissance in driver safety, and the Model Y is now its standard-bearer in this effort, having displaced the Model 3 as the vehicle on the market with the lowest probability of injury, according to the IIHS. Tesla keeps its vehicles on the cutting edge of safety via over-the-air software updates that refine their best safety features, such as adaptive cruise and lane keeping, and with continual refinements to airbags and other restraint devices.
The Model Y has earned five-star safety and Top Safety Pick+ ratings, which have helped it become America’s and Europe’s best-selling electric SUV. MSRP begins at about $67,500 for the Model Y Long Range.
Mazda
2022 Mazda CX-9
Mazda’s flagship has performed so well in crash and avoidance tests that it has been ranked as a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ for six straight years, beginning with its redesign in the 2017 model year.
This hidden gem of an SUV continues to score consistent good and superior ratings with IIHS for its crash safety performance. Like all Mazdas, the CX-9 doesn’t command the premium price of some competitors. This mid-size SUV with three-row seating starts at an MSRP of about $36,900 for the Sport model, with the high-end Signature topping out at a starting price of about $48,800.
Toyota
2022 Toyota Sienna
Toyota’s commitment to real-world safety has made the Sienna a popular choice for growing families. This best-selling minivan with three-row seating has remained a Top Safety Pick+ with the IIHS while achieving an overall five-star safety rating from the NHTSA for 2022.
If you’re looking for a family minivan designed to protect both children and adults, the Toyota Sienna is a true class leader. Its pricing starts at just about $36,600 for an LE model.
Subaru
2022 Subaru Ascent
The all-wheel drive Subaru Ascent comes loaded with an excellent assortment of safety features, which have earned it a Superior rating for front-crash prevention from the IIHS. But what really makes this Subaru shine is that many of its advanced safety features, such as the EyeSight Driver Assist System, are standard on the base model.
The 2022 Subaru Ascent earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a perfect five-star safety rating from the NHTSA on frontal and side impacts. The Ascent is also reasonably priced, with an MSRP starting at about $34,000.
TAGSbuying a carcar safetygenesis gv80tesla model ymazda cx9toyota siennasubaru ascent
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Steven Lang
Steven Lang is a special contributor to Capital One with nearly two decades of experience as an auto auctioneer, car dealer, and part owner of an auto auction. Some of the best-known auto publications turn to him for his expert insight. He is also the co-developer of the Long-Term Quality Index, a survey of vehicle reliability featuring over two million vehicles that have been inspected by professional mechanics.
