Today, car safety is among the top concerns for consumers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently published its vehicle safety ratings report. And EV shoppers will be happy to know the 2021 Tesla Model 3 earned 5 stars from the NHTSA. But the Model 3 isn’t the only 2021 Tesla model to have aced this year’s safety tests.

The Model Y also earned the title “Safest SUV Ever.” Plus, the Model S and Model X received 5 stars across the board from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and NHTSA.

The Tesla Model 3 is among MotorTrend’s safest cars for 2021

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 is an extremely safe compact luxury car, earning 5 stars in all of its safety categories, MotorTrend reports. This includes frontal crash, side crash, rollover, and an overall safety rating. The NHTSA also praised Tesla for offering above-average standard safety technology. These technologies include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support. MotorTrend points out Tesla also offers one of the most advanced semiautonomous systems on the market — Autopilot — and notes it comes standard.

The NHTSA states that the overall star rating “combines driver and passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.” 

But vehicle safety organizations such as the NHTSA are more concerned about a vehicle’s performance in the side barrier crash or side-impact test because these types of crashes result in the highest likelihood of serious injury and fatality. According to the World Health Organization, “In car-to-car side impacts, the fatality risk for car occupants is 85 percent at 65 km/h.” For this reason, the NHTSA simulates an intersecting collision involving another object moving at almost 40 mph (64.5 km/h). 

The Tesla Model 3 continues to dominate the compact luxury EV market

No one can deny the wealth of great luxury EVs on the market today. They also couldn’t deny that the Model 3 has dominated and continues to dominate the luxury EV segment. Although it isn’t Tesla’s first EV, the Model 3 has been a game-changer in the EV industry. For now, it remains the longest-range electric car in its class, with an EPA-estimated 353 miles on a single charge. It also has a reputation for being one of the best-performing EVs, with excellent acceleration and top speed. Not only that, but the Model 3 was also the first compact luxury EV that the average person could afford.

Some people don’t appreciate the Model 3’s minimalist interior design. And though it’s a departure from what many car buyers are accustomed to, the Model 3 and Model Y have cabins that distinguish them from competitors. Tesla’s dual-motor configuration allows the Model 3 to have all-wheel-drive, making it a compact sports sedan capable of competing among even gas-powered models.

The Tesla Model 3 also offers buyers some pretty cool features, such as Smart Summon. Using a mobile app, you can summon the Model 3 to pull out of its parking spot wherever you are. However, you must be within 200 feet of the car.

The safest car the NHTSA has ever tested?

According to Tesla, “Now, not only has Model 3 achieved a perfect 5-star safety rating in every category and sub-category, but NHTSA’s tests also show that it has the lowest probability of injury of all cars the safety agency has ever tested.” The automaker adds that the NHTSA’s “data shows that vehicle occupants are less likely to get seriously hurt in these types of crashes when in a Model 3 than in any other car.”

And the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2021 Model 3 the highest rating of “Good” in all six of its crash tests. Both the sedan and hatchback models also earned IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ honors.