You’ve heard it from the concerned people in your life: “don’t buy a sports car; it’s not safe!” Well, that doesn’t need to be the case if you choose one of the safest sports cars for 2023. Check out four of the top-scoring fun cars with a Top Safety Pick+ rating for their 2022 and 2023 models, like the Subaru BRZ and the Acura Integra.

Which sports car is the safest?

These four sports cars snagged Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for their 2022 and 2023 model years: 

• Acura Integra 
• Subaru BRZ
• Toyota GR86
• Volkswagen Golf R 

However, none of these new performance-oriented cars and hatchbacks have ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA, like the IIHS, evaluates vehicles for safety by subjecting them to crash tests. Still, the IIHS evaluates also crash avoidance as well as mitigation, including vehicles’ safety technology and headlights. 

Is Acura Integra a sports car?

The 2023 Acura Integra might have four doors and a liftback, but it’s a legacy sports car. With a six-speed manual transmission option and an upcoming Type S variant packing over 300 horsepower, the Integra channels its inner sports car without the hassle of a two-door coupe layout. 

Moreover, the 2023 Acura Integra snagged a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, making it a safe option for performance car shoppers. Specifically, the Integra got top marks in every category, save for a few issues. For instance, the Acura model’s headlights received an “acceptable” score for its inadequacy on a gradual left corner. Still, the Integra was one of the few sports cars with top safety scores from the agency. 

Is the Subaru BRZ a safe car?

Despite its small stature, the 2022 and 2023 Subaru BRZ earned top safety marks from the IIHS, including the agency’s highest rating. In fact, the BRZ earned consistent “good” ratings in every crashworthiness category and perfect scores in crash avoidance and mitigation evaluations. 

How safe is the GR86?

The Toyota GR86 snagged a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with “good” ratings in every crashworthiness category. Moreover, even with the analog nature of the GR86, the small sports coupe got “superior” ratings in its crash avoidance evaluations, including the model’s optional pre-collision braking system. 

Unsurprisingly, the GR86 and BRZ get similar ratings; they are mechanical siblings. A cursory glance at the two sports cars reveals that the physical differences are limited to a few design features, like the Toyota model’s larger maw. However, they both back the same 2.4L flat four-cylinder and underpinnings. As a result, the cars received the same clean bill of health from the IIHS. 

How safe is Volkswagen Golf R?

Unlike its venerable sibling, the GTI, the Volkswagen Golf R earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating. However, like the Acura Integra, the Golf R missed the mark in the headlight evaluation. Still, it wasn’t enough to lose the top-tier Golf model its rating. 

I can hear some fans already: “a sports car can’t be a four-door car or a hatchback!” Well, dismissing rigid definitions, it’s in the name. These cars are sporty, performance-oriented, and above all else, fun. As a result, they make up some of the best sports cars with safety credentials on the market, regardless of the number of doors.