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There are other good reasons, like the 48-mpg combined fuel economy, to move up to one of the four top trim levels, but increasing safety features isn’t one of them. Sure, you gain front/rear park assist with the EX-L Hybrid ($32,990). You’ll get a few other of our preferred features, like a head-up display, on the top trim, but the jump in cost doesn’t make sense from a safety standpoint. We’d go with the $29,060 EX grade and add the BSM/RCTA bundle.
Learn more: The 2023 Honda Accord has a new look and a hybrid option that’s front and center
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Best Safety Value: $41,600 (SE RWD Standard Range)
Base Price: $41,600 | Expert Rating: 4.6
Combined Fuel Economy: 140 mpge
Following the success of the Ioniq 5 SUV, Hyundai (HYMTF) introduced the all-new Ioniq 6 fully electric sedan. Streamlined, with up to 320 horsepower or 361 miles of range — depending on trim level — and quick charging, the Ioniq 6 is an impressive contender.
It comes with a wide range of standard safety features, including FCA with pedestrian and cyclist detection, LKA, blind-spot warning, safe exit warning, and automatic high beams. If you want blind-spot collision avoidance assist, junction turning assist, or the Highway Driving Assist II semi-autonomous system (HDA I is standard), you’ll have to choose the SEL. The Limited adds a surround-view monitor, blind spot view monitor (camera), and parking collision avoidance assist. If you’re looking for more power, more features, AWD, or more range, we’d recommend some of the higher trim levels. However, there are so many safety features on the base model that the SE RWD Standard Range is the best safety value.
Check it out: The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6: What’s it like to drive, and when can you get one?
2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Best Safety Value: $47,100 (C300 + Exclusive Trim)
Base Price: $44,850 | Expert Rating: 4.6
Combined Fuel Economy: 29 mpg
Planting the Mercedes-Benz flag in the small, luxury sedan arena, the C-Class provides premium features and solid safety ratings. For the price, the entry-level C-Class isn’t exactly packed with advanced safety tech. Among our list of recommended safety features, the entry-level C-Class trim comes with auto on-off LED headlights, high-beam assist, seven airbags, heated outboard mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers. Among the popular advanced safety tech are BSM with exit alert and a driver monitoring system. Yep, that’s it.
We suggest adding the Exclusive Trim Package ($2,250), which adds front-rear park assist, a surround-view camera, and several non-safety features. It also includes the Mercedes-Benz Parking Pilot that allows automatic parking in tight spaces from outside the car using a smartphone app. For $3,950, you can pick up the Pinnacle Trim Package, which includes all of the Exclusive Trim Package’s goodies, head-up display, and a few other additional features. We’d go with the base C300 and the Exclusive Trim Package.
2023 Toyota Camry
Best Safety Value: $27,600 (LE + BSM with options)
Base Price: $26,320 | Expert Rating: 4.5
Combined Fuel Economy: 32 mpg
Few sedans in history have achieved the success and positive reputation of the Toyota Camry. It checks all the boxes as a family hauler. Comfortable, safe, fuel-efficient, and reliable, the Camry comes with Toyota’s (TM) Safety Sense 2.5+. It contains LKA, LDW with steering assist, ACC, and LTA. Also standard are 10 airbags and high-beam assist. Not only are LED headlights standard but so are LED taillights and DRLs.
You can stick with the base LE, adding the Blind Spot Monitor with options package, a $1,280 bundle that includes BSM, RCTA, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror, along with a convenience goodie or two. We recommend that combination as your best safety value.
2023 Toyota Prius
Best Safety Value: $27,450 (LE)
Base Price: $27,450 | Expert Rating: 4.8
Combined Fuel Economy: 57 mpg
With sleek styling, significantly more power, and better combined mpg, the all-new 2023 Toyota Prius is making waves. In addition to offering stellar fuel economy, the Prius comes standard with plenty of impressive safety features. Even the base model, the LE, has Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. This suite of safety features includes FCW with pedestrian detection, AEB, LDW with steering assist, ACC, LKA, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams. In addition to detecting pedestrians, TSS 3.0 can detect bicycles and motorcycles. Its Emergency Driving Stop can detect when the driver may have a medical issue and can bring the Prius to a stop.
The Prius also comes standard with BSM with rear cross-traffic detection, safe exit assist, and tire-pressure monitoring. You can add front and rear parking sensors for $35, and all-wheel drive for $1,400, but you have just about every safety feature you need in the LE.
Read more: It’s faster, more powerful, sleek and sculpted: It’s the 2023 Toyota Prius, transformed
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Best Safety Value: $32,350 (SE)
Base Price: $32,350 | Expert Rating: 4.8
Combined Fuel Economy: 127 mpge, 53 mpg
Like the Prius, the Toyota Prius Prime is also all-new for 2023. This is the plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, and offers up to 44 miles of electric-only range, compared to 25 in 2022. Horsepower is up by nearly 100, for a total of 220 system horsepower. That makes the Prius Prime more fun to drive, too.
As is the case with the Prius, all trim levels of the Prius Prime come with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. That means you get ACC, LDW with steering assist, FCW with pedestrian detection, AEB, LKA, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams. All trim levels also come with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, and eight airbags. The Prime is not available with all-wheel drive. Because the Prius Prime is so well-equipped at every trim level, we recommend getting the base SE for the best safety value.
Also read: As auto insurance rates rise, this driver cut her bill by 37%–here’s how
IIHS Top Safety Pick award winners
Every year, the IIHS gives out awards to the safest vehicles, based on how they perform in the institute’s test. There are two tiers of awards: Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) and Top Safety Pick (TSP). Here is a list of the cars that earned TSP accolades and NHTSA 5-Star ratings.
MAKE AND MODEL IIHS NHTSA 2023 Honda Civic TSP 5 Stars 2023 Hyundai Sonata TSP 5 Stars 2023 Lexus ES TSP 5 Stars 2023 Mazda3 TSP 5 Stars 2023 Subaru Legacy TSP 5 Stars 2023 Toyota Corolla TSP 5 Stars
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
-Russ Heap -s
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
09-26-23 0503ET
Copyright (c) 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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