Top-Ranked Electric Cars That Are Both Safe and Budget-Friendly
Hyundai Kona Electric leads 2025 EV rankings, balancing crash safety and price better than competitors like Tesla, Ford, and Kia, says Bruning Law Firm.
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Hyundai’s Kona Electric has emerged as the top electric vehicle for balancing crash safety and entry-level pricing, according to a recent study by Bruning Law Firm.
The study assessed electric vehicles (EVs) by developing a composite score based on two equally weighted factors: crash rate and starting MSRP. Fatal crash data from 2019 to 2022 was normalized as incidents per 10,000 vehicles sold. Affordability was measured through the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Min-Max Scaling was applied to generate a final score for each model.
The Hyundai Kona Electric achieved the highest composite score of 82.09. With just 0.96 crashes per 10,000 units and a starting MSRP of $32,975, it offers a strong combination of safety and cost-efficiency.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV followed closely, ranking second with a score of 81.59. Despite its higher crash rate of 2.10, its $30,000 base price strengthened its overall standing.
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E secured the third spot, largely due to its industry-low crash rate of 0.29. Its starting MSRP of $38,490 slightly impacted its affordability factor, positioning it behind the Bolt EV despite better crash data.
Volkswagen’s ID.4 ranked fourth, balancing a moderate crash rate of 0.54 and a higher price point of $46,520. The Nissan Leaf rounded out the top five, aided by its relatively affordable MSRP of $28,140, though its crash rate was higher at 5.39 per 10,000 vehicles.
Tesla's Model Y claimed sixth place with a 1.01 crash rate and a $46,000 starting price. Audi’s e-tron, despite a low 0.52 crash rate, finished seventh due to its higher entry price of $49,800.
Tesla's Model 3 ranked eighth, facing a heavier penalty from its 2.56 crash rate and $44,130 starting MSRP.
Kia’s Niro EV, though the most affordable model at $20,490, placed ninth. Its crash rate of 26.58 significantly affected its composite score, reflecting a major safety concern.
Hyundai’s Ioniq EV finished last among the ten vehicles studied. It recorded the highest crash rate at 29.05 and commanded a starting price of $42,600.
