2026 Kia K4
$22,290 - $28,890 | 28 MPG | $0.66 per mile
Safest Cars Under $35K for 2026
36 vehicles under $35,000 earned NHTSA's 5-star safety rating for 2026. The 2026 Kia K4 is the most affordable option at $22,290. It also earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+. Ranked by base price, cheapest first.
First Result
5-star NHTSA safety rating with IIHS Top Safety Pick+, starting at $22,290
28 MPG
Photo by Hansheng Zhao on UnsplashHow this list is generated
Model year: 2026; NHTSA overall safety rating: 5 or higher; Base MSRP: 35000 or lower. Data is refreshed periodically from published sources.
365-Star Rated
19IIHS Awards
13Brands
$22k–$35kPrice Range
Sources: NHTSA.gov, IIHS.org, fueleconomy.gov, RepairPal.com, AAA.
Vehicles Matching These Criteria
36 vehicles
2026 Hyundai Elantra
$22,625 - $29,400 | 31 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,000 - $29,200 | 27-31 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Kia Seltos
$23,790 - $31,490 | 29 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
$23,995 - $29,995 | 34 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
$24,380 - $27,375 | 35 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Honda Civic
$24,695 - $46,895 | 34-49 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
$25,450 - $29,800 | 50 MPG | $0.64 per mile
2026 Buick Encore GX
$25,900 - $33,000 | 27-30 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Mazda CX-30
$25,975 - $37,900 | 27 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Honda HR-V
$26,500 - $31,850 | 27-28 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Hyundai Sonata
$27,450 - $38,250 | 27-47 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Kia K5
$27,490 - $34,990 | 27 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Nissan Altima
$27,580 - $30,480 | 28-30 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
$27,695 - $31,845 | 25 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Honda Accord
$28,395 - $39,495 | 32-48 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Toyota Prius
$28,550 - $36,965 | 54-57 MPG | $0.64 per mile
2026 Kia Sportage
$28,790 - $39,690 | 26-28 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Nissan Rogue
$29,090 - $38,990 | 31-32 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Toyota Camry
$29,100 - $37,025 | 50-51 MPG | $0.71 per mile
2026 Hyundai Tucson
$29,450 - $42,075 | 26-36 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
$29,750 - $43,700 | 20-25 MPG | $0.79 per mile
2026 Mazda CX-50
$29,900 - $42,900 | 25-38 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Subaru Forester
$29,995 - $41,595 | 29 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Ford Escape
$30,350 - $38,935 | $0.69 per mile
2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid
$30,490 - $40,590 | 35-42 MPG | $0.78 per mile
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
$30,805 - $43,085 | 25-28 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Honda CR-V
$30,920 - $42,250 | 29-40 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Ford Bronco Sport
$31,845 - $40,265 | 23 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Kia Sorento
$32,390 - $47,790 | 23 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Subaru WRX
$32,495 - $45,995 | 21 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Ford Mustang
$32,640 - $63,080 | 19 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Acura Integra
$33,400 - $53,400 | 32 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
$33,745 | 29 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2026 Chevrolet Blazer
$34,200 - $46,400 | 21-22 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Acura ADX
$35,000 - $44,000 | 28-29 MPG | $0.69 per mile
Common Questions
How many 2026 cars have 5-star safety ratings?
All 36 vehicles earned NHTSA's top 5-star overall safety rating for 2026. Prices start at $22,290.
Which 2026 cars have zero recalls?
21 of 36 vehicles shown on this page have no recalls on file with NHTSA. Recall counts can change at any time as manufacturers and NHTSA identify new issues.
Which brands have vehicles on this list?
13 brands are represented: Acura, Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, and 5 more. Rankings are based on EPA, NHTSA, IIHS, AAA, and RepairPal data, not editorial opinion.