What Are The Most Reliable Cars With The Highest Safety Ratings in 2025?

After all, what’s more important than keeping you and your family safe, while a reliable vehicle is the best way to avoid costly headaches and stress years after your initial purchase.

If you’re making one of the biggest purchases of your life, it goes without saying that you’re putting your money behind a safe and sturdy vehicle and one that won’t start burning a hole in your pocket once the warranty is gone.

To help you out with your new car research, let’s take a look at our list of ten vehicles that tick both the fundamental boxes of safety and reliability for the best possible ownership experience.

What are the Most Reliable Car Brands in 2025?

The best way to gauge vehicle reliability is with a mix of empirical data and more anecdotal evidence like ownership reviews.

In this case, let’s get a clear picture of reliability with two sources backed by historical data, J.D. Power, which has been mapping out vehicle reliability for more than 35 years now, and Canstar Blue based here in Australia.

The J.D. Power Dependability Study is a great way to compare vehicle reliability across major manufacturers which, in its latest 2024 report, took responses from 35,595 vehicle owners.

The results of the latest study saw the reliability ranks topped by Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, followed by Porsche, Mazda, Kia, BMW, Hyundai, Subaru, Nissan, Genesis and Honda.

Canstar’s latest vehicle reliability study surveyed a smaller sample size of 2,300 Aussies, with Isuzu UTE topping the list, followed by Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Kia, Subaru, Hyundai, Toyota, Suzuki and Volkswagen.

• Lexus & Toyota

• Mercedes-Benz

• Isuzu UTE

• Mitsubishi

• Mazda

• Genesis & Hyundai

• Nissan

• Honda

• Volkswagen

• Subaru

What are the Most Reliable Cars with the Highest Safety Ratings in 2025?

Now that we’ve covered Australia’s most reliable car brands here in Australia in 2025, it’s time to cast our gaze on safety ratings.

Australian safety ratings are published by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, otherwise known as ANCAP, an organisation that trashes new cars - for the sake of science - and slaps them with a safety rating out of five.

In the interest of combining both reliability and the highest safety ratings, we’ll be looking at manufacturers that have been outlined above as reliable while matching those with models that have a recent five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The key word here is recent, because ANCAP introduced new and tougher test protocols back in January, 2023, meaning a five-star rating published after that date holds more weight than those awarded before.

Mazda CX-60

The Mazda CX-60 is a great pick for large families, offering a range of inline six-cylinder engines and the option of a fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid unit at the top of the range, a beautiful interior layout and space for up to seven people.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 91%

• Child Occupant Protection: 93%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 89%

• Safety Assist: 77%

Toyota Camry

Toyota has given its iconic Toyota Camry a facelift and some key equipment updates for the super practical sedan package, while a recent five-star ANCAP safety rating makes it a great option for buyers prioritising safety and reliability.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 95%

• Child Occupant Protection: 87%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 84%

• Safety Assist: 81%

Lexus LBX

Lexus’ all-new compact SUV, the LBX, impresses with its sleek styling package, lovely interior with stacks of technology and a super fuel-efficient hybrid-only engine lineup, with the company’s reputation for safety and reliability making it a top pick in the small SUV segment.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 82%

• Child Occupant Protection: 86%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 79%

• Safety Assist: 79%

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai’s ever-practical family wagon now offers a hybrid-only lineup with some great fuel-efficiency gains, with its family appeal bolstered by full marks in its ANCAP testing.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 84%

• Child Occupant Protection: 86%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 77%

• Safety Assist: 80%

Kia EV5

Kia’s all-new entrant to the battery-electric midsize SUV segment is set to play a big role in the company’s electric expansion plans, with the EV5 picking up a practical interior, lengthy equipment lists and a low-maintenance electric powertrain backed by a seven-year warranty.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 88%

• Child Occupant Protection: 86%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 74%

• Safety Assist: 82%

Mitsubishi Triton

The latest-generation MV Triton range has taken a major leap forward when it comes to interior practicality and infotainment technology while debuting with a jam-packed safety equipment list that makes it a must-have on any dual-cab ute shortlist.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 86%

• Child Occupant Protection: 89%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 74%

• Safety Assist: 70%

Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series

The introduction of a brand-new LandCruiser Prado marks one of the biggest releases in 2025, with the 250 Series confidently holding its own when it comes to off-road abilities, on-road comfort and long safety equipment lists, even in the base model.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 85%

• Child Occupant Protection: 89%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 84%

• Safety Assist: 82%

Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a lovely midsize SUV package that doesn’t disappoint when it comes to driving comfort and family-conscious safety features that make it a must-have on any shortlist.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 83%

• Child Occupant Protection: 88%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 84%

• Safety Assist: 78%

Lexus RZ

If you’re looking for a futuristic and family-friendly electric SUV that over-delivers on the safety front, the Lexus RX doesn't disappoint with a five-star safety rating and a particularly long list of clever safety tech.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2023)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 87%

• Child Occupant Protection: 89%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 84%

• Safety Assist: 84%

Toyota C-HR

The Toyota C-HR is a fabulous little SUV package that makes light work of a run around town while keeping those inside safe and sound thanks to its rock-solid build quality and clever tech, while Toyota’s reputation for reliability certainly helps to inspire confidence in buyers.

• ANCAP Rating: Five-star (tested 2024)

• Adult Occupant Protection: 85%

• Child Occupant Protection: 88%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 86%

• Safety Assist: 82%

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FAQ: What is the Safest and Most Reliable Car Brand?

It’s nearly impossible to give one manufacturer and model the outright award for the safest and most reliable car brand, Lexus, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu, Hyundai, Genesis, BMW, Volkswagen, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan are all solid options in regard to both their safety ratings and reputation for reliability.

FAQ: Which Car is the Safest in a Crash in Australia?

Some of the safest cars in Australia, according to ANCAP’s latest testing, include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series, Kia EV5, Lexus LBX, Toyota Camry, BMW 5 Series, VW Tiguan, Mazda CX-80, GWM Tank 500, Mitsubishi Triton, MG HS and the Toyota C-HR.

FAQ: Which SUV is Safest in a Crash?

According to ANCAP, some of the latest-generation battery-electric SUVs like the Kia EV5, Lexus LBX, Volvo EX30, Tesla Model Y, Lexus NX, Kia EV9, Mercedes-Benz EQE and the Lexus RZ are some of the safest SUVs in the event of a crash due to their recent testing under more stringent ANCAP protocols. Some of the safest internal combustion SUVs include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-80, Toyota C-HR and LandCruiser Prado and the Volkswagen Tiguan all wear five-star ratings under ANCAP’s latest testing.