Safest Cars for Lease

Cars are getting better as time goes on.

So are car safety features.

And it's fair to say that leasing a safe car is never a bad way to go. But safe doesn't have to mean boring, nor does it have to mean a family car.

We're giving you a rundown of the safest cars to lease in 2024, the models with the most advanced driver assistance systems and the most cutting-edge safety technologies.

10. Volvo XC90

Volvo has long been synonymous with safety, with this one being no exception. This luxury midsize SUV gives you a whole host of standard safety features, including:

• Pilot Assist: Providing semi-autonomous driving assistance that helps with braking, acceleration and steering

• City Safety Collision Avoidance Technology: Which brakes automatically for pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists

• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS): This alerts you to vehicles in your blind spot and helps with steering to avoid collisions**

With a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volvo XC90 is a top notch choice for safety-conscious drivers.

9. Subaru Outback

Continuing to be a favourite among those seeking a safe, reliable and versatile vehicle, its standard safety gizmos include:

• Rear Seat Reminder: Alerting the driver to check the rear seats before leaving the vehicle.

• EyeSight Driver Assist Technology: Includes lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and pre-collision braking.

• Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering: Helps keep your vehicle in a central lane position at a safe following distance.

The Outback's robust safety ratings, including the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation, shortlists it as a safe choice for any kind of driver.

8. Toyota Camry

Usually known for its reliability, its safety credentials are equally impressive. The 2024 Camry comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, offering:

• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: Keeps you at a safe distance from the car in front.

• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist: This will warn you if you start to drift out of your lane.

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection: Helping to detect and avoid potential collisions with vehicles and pedestrians.

The Toyota Camry's mix of reliability, affordability and top-notch safety features makes it a standout choice in the midsize sedan segment.

7. Honda CR-V

The 2024 trim keeps up its legacy as a compact SUV that's big on safety. Standard safety gadgets include:

• Blind Spot Information System: Helps you change lanes safely by alerting you to vehicles in your blind spot.

• Honda Sensing® Suite: Consisting of collision mitigation braking, cruise control, road departure mitigation, and lane-keep assist.

• Cross Traffic Monitor: Warns you of vehicles approaching when you're reversing.

The CR-V's impressive safety ratings and practical design make it a compelling choice for those seeking a dependable and secure vehicle.

6. Mazda CX-5

This compact SUV that combines performance, style and top-notch safety. It gives you i-Activsense® safety technologies, such as:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control: Keeps a safe following distance and adjusts your speed according to traffic conditions.

• Advanced Smart City Brake Support: Helps reduce or prevent the severity of frontal collisions.

• Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist: This gives you an alert and provides steering assistance when you're unintentionally departing your lane.

The CX-5's comprehensive safety features and elegant design have earned it the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, making it a great option for leasing.

5. Hyundai Palisade

Like an actual palisade, this one offers a wall of protection. Key safety technologies include:

• Safe Exit Assist: Stops passengers from opening doors if a vehicle is approaching from behind.

• Hyundai SmartSense: Comes with blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist and smart cruise control.

• Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert: Reminds you to check the rear seats for children or pets.

With its family-friendly features and high safety ratings, the Palisade is right up there for those in need of a larger vehicle.

4. CUPRA Born

One of the newer electric cars to hit the tarmac, it’s got solid underpinnings due to being based on the same platform as the popular Volkswagen ID.3. But with a sporty flair. 

Available with either a 58kWh or a 77kWh battery, the Born promises an official range of between 259 and 340 miles, depending on which model you go for. Not bad for what is CUPRA’s first all-electric car. 

The interior is just as good – quite roomy for a hatchback with lots of storage inside for life's bits and bobs. Meanwhile, the 385-litre boot is ideal for the weekly shop or a folded-up buggy.

In safety terms, the CUPRA Born achieves top marks with a 5-star Euro NCAP score and a whole host of safety tech, including automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitor and traffic sign recognition.  

3. Volkswagen Golf

Forever managing to bridge the gap between mainstream family cars and their pricier premium alternatives, the Golf still holds up as one of the best family hatchbacks on the market with impressive practicality and great driving dynamics, for young and old families alike. The latest generations are packed with the latest technologies, including front and rear parking sensors, a 10" infotainment screen and a built-in satnav.

It's a top performer on the safety front too, with an impressive 87% score for child safety and general top marks with a 5-star Euro NCAP score. Safety features include but certainly aren't limited to traffic sign recognition, driver fatigue monitor, lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

2. KIA Sportage

There’s no shortage of SUV family cars to choose from, but the KIA Sportage does well to stand out from the crowd.

Enter into a smart and spacious interior with plenty of leg and head room (even for those above 6ft), and it comes with a generous amount of storage, with door pockets large enough for a bottle of water, trays for your phone and keys and a well-sized glovebox.

Also, plenty of trims to take your pick from, and the boot is a competitive 591-litres to make your holiday life easier. All versions come complete with automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

It scores high on safety too, with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and good scores for both child and adult safety, whilst KIA’s market-leading 7-year warranty provides extra peace of mind.  

1. Skoda Octavia

Crossovers and SUVs might rule the family car market at present, but the Skoda Octavia estate is still a prime choice if you want to keep more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket: cheaper to buy and run, more economical, and equally as practical.

In terms of safety, the Skoda Octavia boasts the full 5-star score, with lots of on-board safety tech including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking and an e-Call system that notifies the emergency services if you end up in a collision.

Take advantage of a spacey cabin with more than enough room for 5 adults to stretch out on long journeys, and with plenty of clever touches spread around, including storage for umbrellas in the front doors, flip-out hooks in the boot, an ice-scraper under the fuel filler cap and a USB-C port above the rear-view mirror for a dashcam.

Not the most fashionable choice, but a sensible one.

Summary

Leasing a safe car has more than just money benefits. It's of benefit to your well-being and that of your passengers, both children and adults. And the ones above represent some of the safest options for lease in 2024, each with a mix of car safety technologies, robust crash test ratings, and advanced driver assistance systems.

Safe driving!