The 5 Safest Midsize Cars of 2022 Cost Under $30,000
Midsize cars offer a lot of value for a reasonable price. They are roomy, economical, and offer many features that appeal to most buyers. Car safety is also a priority and one of the reasons midsize sedans remain popular. So, what are the safest midsize cars?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit organization that rates vehicles based on their safety features and crash protection. The organization awards Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ titles to the cars offering the best safety choice. The top six vehicles in the midsize category not only receive the highest ratings for safety for their class but are also among the best cars in the midsize segment. Best of all, these vehicles all cost under $30,000.
What does the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ mean?
The IIHS evaluates vehicles to identify the best choices for car safety in each class. Since 2013, it has awarded the safest vehicles in each class with a Top Safety Pick+ rating. To receive this rating, a car has to meet the following criteria:
- Good ratings in the driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests
- Advanced or superior ratings for available front crash prevention — vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations
- Acceptable or good headlights standard
2022 Honda Accord
Base price: $26,120
Standard car safety features:
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control with road sign recognition
- Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
- Driver drowsiness monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
The 2022 Honda Accord is one of the best cars in the midsize cars segment. In 2022, it won the U.S. News 2022 Best Midsize Car for the Money award based on its combination of features, price, reliability, and safety. It’s a fantastic car, offering a spacious, premium interior, a large trunk, and good fuel economy. Not only does it get top marks for safety, but top marks for its intuitive, easy-to-use controls and blend of performance, ride, and handling. Spend time with one, and it’s easy to see why it’s consistently at the top of many car comparisons.
2022 Kia K5
Base price: $23,790
Standard car safety features:
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Lane keep assist
- Lane departure warning
- Driver drowsiness monitoring
- Rearview camera
The 2022 Kia K5 midsize sedan was also a finalist in the U.S. News 2022 Best Midsize Car for the Money award. It offers many of the same attributes that make the Honda Accord so good, including a mix of easy-to-use features, great styling, performance, and safety. Additionally, since it’s a Kia, it delivers all of those things with one of the lowest prices in the midsize segment.
2022 Nissan Altima
Base price: $24,550
Standard car safety features:
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Lane departure warning
- Driver drowsiness monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
The 2022 Nissan Altima is also a great choice in the midsize sedan category, consistently ranking in the top five of many comparisons. It may not be as enjoyable to drive as some of the cars in the midsize segment, but it offers a quiet, comfortable ride, lots of room, and plenty of features.
2022 Subaru Legacy
Base price: $22,995
Standard car safety features:
- Adaptive headlights
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Head-up display
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Rearview camera
- Rear-seat reminder
The 2022 Subaru Legacy midsize sedan is equipped with standard all-wheel drive and combines a roomy, upscale interior with a large trunk. The base engine lacks power and is not as fun to drive as other cars on this list, but it is an excellent choice for buyers seeking a practical, all-weather vehicle.
2022 Toyota Camry
Base price: $25,295
Standard car safety features:
- Lane trace assist
- Lane keep assist
- Lane departure warning
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Traffic sign recognition
- Rearview camera
- Adaptive cruise control
The 2022 Toyota Camry midsize sedan finishes the list, offering a quiet, comfortable ride, composed handling, and plenty of features. It routinely ranks as one of the best midsize cars and offers a long list of options, including a powerful V6 engine. The Camry appeals to buyers who want value and a low base price but can also be configured with premium features that rival many luxury cars.
