A new study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists the vehicles with the highest and lowest death rates. But as the data suggests, driver habits may have as much to do with fatalities as structural safety.
While the statistics may seem to suggest the vehicles with the highest death rates are the least safe, a closer look reveals driver behavior is almost certainly the deciding factor.
Take the Infiniti G35, for example. Its death rate is just 11 per million vehicles. Compare that to the nearly identical Nissan 350Z, whose death rate is a whopping 193 per million.
The vehicle with the lowest death rate is the Chevrolet Astro — an archaic minivan that performs horrifically in IIHS frontal crash tests (pictured). Despite this, its death rate is just 7 per million, compared to the infinitely safer Chevrolet Blazer, which has the worst death rate of 232 per million.
The lesson? It’s not just what — it’s how you drive.
Lowest Vehicle Deaths Per Million Vehicles
Chevrolet Astro: minivan very large – 7
Infiniti G35: luxury car midsize – 11
BMW 7 Series: luxury car very large – 11
Toyota 4Runner: 4WD SUV midsize – 13
Audi A4/S4 Quattro: 4dr car midsize – 14
Mercedes E-Class: luxury car large – 14
Toyota Highlander: 4WD SUV midsize – 14
Mercedes M-Class: 4WD SUV midsize – 14
Toyota Sienna: minivan very large – 17
Honda Odyssey: minivan very large – 17
Lexus ES 330: luxury car midsize – 18
Lexus RX 330: 2WD SUV midsize – 18
Toyota Sequoia: 2WD SUV large – 18
Honda Pilot: 4WD SUV midsize – 19
BMW X5: 4WD SUV midsize – 19
Highest Vehicle Deaths Per Million Vehicles
Chevrolet Blazer: 2dr 2WD SUV midsize – 232
Acura RSX: 2dr car small – 202
Nissan 350Z: sports car midsize – 193
Kia Spectra: hatchback 4dr car small – 191
Pontiac Sunfire: 2dr car small – 179
Kia Rio: 4dr car mini – 175
Chevrolet Cavalier: 2dr car small – 171
Mitsubishi Eclipse: 2dr car small – 169
Dodge Neon: 4dr car small – 161
Pontiac Grand Am: 2dr car midsize – 160
Chevrolet Cavalier: 4dr car small – 150
Ford Mustang: sports car midsize – 150
Ford Ranger: 4WD pickup small – 150
Mazda B Series: 2WD pickup small – 147
Mitsubishi Eclipse: convertible sports car small – 146
Mitsubishi Montero: Sport 2WD SUV midsize – 146



04/20, 11:00 AM
posted by:
Don
more like “vehicles with riskiest drivers”
04/20, 11:07 AM
posted by:
55amg
yes more to do with whos driving these cars. Anyway, note that theres only one american manufacturer in the least deaths bit. I wonder of that has to do with the American cars handling
04/20, 11:18 AM
posted by:
lolrax
Other than the astro, it seems that it almost comes down to vehicle expense. Compare the sticker prices on the top list to the vehicles on the bottom. Its survival or the richest.
04/20, 11:26 AM
posted by:
Random Jerk
I would agree that overall this information as presented is not enough to make a judgment on the actual safety of these vehicles. However, you could certainly makes some assumptions:
The “safest” cars are typically expensive/luxury (old drivers) or minivans/SUVS (family transportation).
The “deadliest” are inexpensive/small (inexperienced young people) or sports oriented (wanna be Schumachers who kill themselves).
I’d say the only surprise would be the Blazer at the top of the deadliest list.
04/20, 11:37 AM
posted by:
Random Jerk
It’s NOT that expensive cars are all that much safer, its the demographics of the DRIVERS who can afford the expensive cars are. OLD WEALTY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE, you know – the ones who are always driving to slow for you…
04/20, 11:39 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
Take the Infiniti G35, for example. Its death rate is just 11 per million vehicles. Compare that to the nearly identical Nissan 350Z, whose death rate is a whopping 193 per million.
doesnt this line above explain it all, same car basically with different kinds of drivers, i dont see many g35 ricers, but do see alot of 350z racers though.
04/20, 11:55 AM
posted by:
Zer0
You have to look at how this study is conducted also.
There are less deaths in more expensive cars, because there are less crashes in them, of course.
There are less crashes in them because THERE ARE LESS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD.
It’s easy to have a high number of crashes that involve a high volume vehicle.
04/20, 11:56 AM
posted by:
Zer0
This study was a waste of time.
04/20, 12:01 PM
posted by:
davebo
Zer0: “There are less crashes in them because THERE ARE LESS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD.”
But the study is how many deaths per million vehicles made.
04/20, 12:24 PM
posted by:
lotusfire
Davedo is right, if there are only half a million G35s in the survey and 5 1/2 people died, that still counts as 11/million.
04/20, 12:28 PM
posted by:
atro
“Take the Infiniti G35, for example. Its death rate is just 11 per million vehicles. Compare that to the nearly identical Nissan 350Z, whose death rate is a whopping 193 per million.”
the g35 in ths list is the sedan…
you’re comparing apples to oranges…
you guys rock most of the time, but you can be way off as well.
04/20, 12:42 PM
posted by:
gsh
any care to explain the blazer? im not aware that blazers make good racers.
04/20, 1:02 PM
posted by:
Oldsmobile
The blazer is 2WD and is the 2-door which is more top-heavy and shorter. Plus young males tend to drive 2-door blazers (not very well apparently).
04/20, 1:11 PM
posted by:
Get Real
Stupid research, I see people driving like idiots all the time and I fully expect THEM to die one day.
They defined my Excursion as too big and I will die.
By their definition every driver of an 18-wheeler is going to die.
04/20, 1:28 PM
posted by:
davebo
GetReal: You’re right, statistically you won’t die, you’ll probably just kill a Cavalier full of teenagers
04/20, 1:33 PM
posted by:
nowei
There are some serious flaws with this study, though. If it’s just based off of what vehicle people were driving when they died it doesn’t take into consideration the factors surrounding the crash.
For example, I could see blazers being purchased by people who live in areas of the united states with more extreme weather (regardless of how well the vehicle is actually equipped to handle said weather), and could thus be subject to move weather-related collisions.
It could also be that the average person buying a 10k sunfire or cavalier doesn’t live in the same kind of area as a person buying a G35 or a 7-Series. And nicer neighbourhoods aren’t often located close to industrial areas, which would have a higher volume of larger vehicles.
So it’s not only what you drive and how you drive it, but also where and when you drive it. Besides, do you have any idea how many 16 year-old kids drive around with wreckless abandon in their parents’ chevrolet astro?
04/20, 1:42 PM
posted by:
BAMF
Anyone else notice that the convertible version of the Mitsubishi Eclipse is safer than the Coupe? Thats crazy.
04/20, 2:34 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
I believe there’s a correlation between age of drivers and number of passengers in the vehicle. Teens tend to have more accidents when they are carrying more than just themselves, which is leading some states to restrict the number of passengers a teen can drive. Note most of the vehicles in the high death category are popular with younger drivers. It would be interesting to see the breakout of driver vs passenger deaths for each of these vehicles.
04/20, 4:55 PM
posted by:
Renton
teens are the worst drivers, and they drive the ****tiest cars. they pack the most people in them to magnify the death rate.
go teens!
04/20, 5:22 PM
posted by:
kayne001
55amg
to answer your question NO
04/20, 5:56 PM
posted by:
A4
theres only one american car in the lowest category because all the old people buy asian piles of crap. The only thing im surprised by is that buick didnt make the list 4 times.
04/20, 7:57 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
In case any of you are interested, here’s a link to the study:
http://www.iihs.org/sr/pdfs/sr4204.pdf
Some interesting facts:
The study focused only on driver deaths, no passenger data was compiled
- SUV’s had consistently higher deaths than passenger vehicles in the same weight category, and except for light trucks, pickups did even worst
- The larger and heavier vehicles had overall lower rates, with some notable exceptions
- Overall deaths have dropped 30% since the mid 90’s
- Some cars were singled out for their failings, in particular the Ford Excursion, Ford Taurus stationwagon, Ford F-150 (I see a pattern here…)
04/21, 7:02 PM
posted by:
Rompn4x
Anyone notice that almost all of the deadliest are small cars? I wonder how 2wd Rangers did in the test… On another note love how people bash on anything American when they are behind a computer screen, but in real life I don’t hear a peep from them. Seems funny to me =P
04/21, 7:04 PM
posted by:
Rompn4x
Nevermind I just saw the Mazda B-series on the list… same thing as a Ranger
04/22, 10:46 AM
posted by:
wcnhl57
ZerO
Your a genius, obviously if there is less cars created, there would be less crashes, right?
The IIHS is the biggest reserach and testing firm for car safety. Do you REALLY think that they would be stupid enough to not recorrect for differences in volume. Complete ignorance for you to think you solved the magic key, and how stupid these guys are to make a mistake like that.
04/23, 12:57 AM
posted by:
jamaicandude
I think it has more to do with how you drive a car than how crash worthy it is. I know safe vehicles are important, so nobody try & bite my head off. That’s not my point. The point is that if you have a really bad accident… say a head-on collision with a semi at 50 miles per hour, it doesn’t matter what the hell you’re driving. You’ll be lucky to live at all.
04/23, 10:05 AM
posted by:
hateful83
This is a good one. So the bigger vehicles have a lower death rate while the smaller ones are the opposite. Who would’a thought?
04/23, 1:36 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
my sister in law had a 2 door blazer and drove it like crap, she rear ended everything everywhere all the time, one day after my brother picked it up from the shop and traded it for a used s-40. damn she was pissed, its kind of funny we tell her he did it because it has the w (weather button for the traction controll)
button for women drivers.
04/23, 9:55 PM
posted by:
Ian
So what… NEON, Caviler, 350Z, Mustang among the lowest. Anyone surprised here??? raise your hand…
04/24, 7:20 AM
posted by:
Get Real
These are the same people that said that the Astro in CRASH TESTS were horrible and dangerous.
They reported the entire front end collapsed and killed the driver.
NOW IT’S SAFE ????
Can these people think ????????