Whether shopping for a teen who just got their driver’s license or searching for a replacement for an existing family vehicle, many buyers place safety at the top of the list right beside affordability. Automakers like Toyota and Honda have a reputation for providing a wide range of sedans to vans and safety features at a price you can afford.

Honda is setting a new standard in safety on their 2021 Odyssey minivan, building upon their well-established record on cars like the Insight, HR-V, and Accord. Consumer Reports and IIHS teamed up to list the vehicles with the best safety records to help consumers make an informed choice. Their list included five Hondas that are both safe and affordable.

Consumer Reports/IIHS criteria for safety and affordability

The Consumer Reports/IIHS list includes new and used cars ranging from $5k to $20k, allowing buyers to invest in the safest options regardless of their budget. They separated their list into the “Best Choices” and “Good Choices.”

“Best Choices” have a rating of good moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests crash test ratings by IIHS or 4 to 5-star ratings by NHTSA for similar categories and a good or acceptable rating on the driver-side small overlap front test. Cars on this list also have above-average reliability scores. These autos must stop within 145 feet when dry braking from 60 to 0 mph and have a lower than average frequency of medical and personal injury insurance claims.

“Good Choices” must meet the same crash testing, higher than average reliability, and braking criteria as “Best Choices,” but have a lower rating on the driver-side small overlap front test and/or have a higher than average medical and personal frequency injury insurance claims.

CR’s ‘Best Choice’ small cars list includes the Honda Insight

2019 through 2021 model Honda Insights make the “Best Choice” list due to their stellar performance on IIHS crash test ratings, which earned them Top Safety Pick + status. The Insight received good crash test ratings across the board with the added “plus” rating for child seat anchoring, while receiving a “superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. The Insight is on the higher end of affordability averaging just under $18k.

The Honda Accord shows up as a midsize car ‘Best Choice’

The Accord has been one of Honda’s most reliable midsize car offerings for a very long time. The CR/IIHS “Best Choice” list includes Accords from 2013 and newer. The Accord did not receive “good” ratings across the board, receiving an acceptable rating for its structure and safety cage. The “plus” rating for child seat anchoring was added to the Accord as well, but only a “basic” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. This car is on the lower end of the affordability list, averaging around $9k.

The Honda CR-V and HR-V are included among ‘Best Choice’ small SUVs

Two of Honda’s small SUVs appear on the CR/IIHS list. Honda CR-Vs from model years 2015-2016 as well as 2019 and newer received “good” ratings across the board, except for 2015-2016 models, which received a “moderate” rating for child seat anchoring. CR-Vs with vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention received a “superior” rating as well.

The HR-V from 2017-2018 model years, build after March 2017, received an “acceptable” overall evaluation, which included a “moderate” rating for child seat anchoring and a “poor” rating for its headlights. The HR-V during these model years did not include vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. Both of these SUVs fall near the middle of the affordability scale with the CR-V averaging around $12k and the HR-V about $14k.

CR’s ‘Best Choice’ minivans list includes the Honda Odyssey

Disneyland Resorts chose the 2021 Honda Odyssey as their official family vehicle, reflecting how critics feel about the exciting new safety features on the horizon. However, the CR/IIHS list includes the 2015 and 2016 Honda Odysseys. These models received “good” ratings in all areas, except for their structure and safety cage, “acceptable.” Honda Odyssey models that include vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention received a “basic” rating for that feature. The Odyssey hits in the middle of the affordability scale at just over $14k.

Choose a Honda if safety and affordability are your focus

Buyers focused on safety, for whatever reason, will find a reliable range of choices among Honda offerings from 2013 models up to current models. Besides, the safe models listed on the CR/IIHS list are also affordable options for budget-conscious shoppers. Choose a Honda if you hope to combine the highest level of safety with affordability.