Top 10 Safest Crossovers for Under $40,000

Like what rock and roll did to disco, it's safe to say that the SUV—and its evolutionary forward step, the crossover—buried the minivan six-feet underground and hasn't looked back since. Look around your neighborhood; you're bound to see at least two SUVs on your street parked in driveways. Even with gas prices hovering around $5 in some parts of the country, the SUV and crossovers continue to serve families who need the extra seats on a daily basis. Many families are looking for a family hauler that looks good but more importantly, has a track record of being safe. So, to help those who are currently in the market for a safe and affordable crossover, we assembled a list of the top 10 safest three-row crossovers under $40,000.

2013 Buick Enclave
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$38,445
Like the two aforementioned models, the 2013 Buick Enclave is loaded with safety features, three rows of seats, and can be yours for just under $40,000. Originally launched in 2007 as a 2008 model, the Buick Enclave can be configured with your choice of either captain chairs or a bench seat for the second row. The 2013 model boasts some updates that include a redesigned waterfall grille, LED running lights and taillights, xenon headlights, and a redesigned dashboard. Standard safety features include seven airbags including a front center airbag, ABS, daytime running lights, traction and stability control, an engine immobilizer, child locks for the rear doors, emergency braking assist, rear fixed headrests, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
2013 Chevrolet Traverse
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$30,510
It's considered to be a sleeper in the crossover segment because it's not terribly flashy despite its popularity, but that's not to say that the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse should be overlooked when it comes to keeping your family safe. Starting at $30,510, the Traverse offers standard safety features including ABS, a remote anti-theft system, daytime running lights, front seatbelt pretensioners, traction and stability control, LATCH points, and child locks for the rear doors. Other standard safety features include emergency braking assist, an engine immobilizer, a three-point belt for the rear center seat, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The 2012 version earned Top Safety Pick honors from the IIHS, but the new one should score even better with the addition of an industry-first centrally-mounted airbag.
2013 Dodge Durango
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$28,995
Ever a stalwart, the Dodge Durango has been hanging around since its introduction back in 1998 as a 1999 model. The Durango was originally created to fill the hole left by the Ramcharger, which was discontinued back in 1993. The rest is history. When Chrysler first unleashed the Durango into the U.S. market, 189,840 units were sold followed by 173,567 units in 2000. From 1999 to 2005, the Dodge Durango sold over 100,000 units a year. The third-generation Durango was launched in early 2011 after assembly had about a month to build stock in December of 2010. Even while the Durango is built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee at Chrysler's Jefferson North facility, it has a longer wheelbase, making it possible to fit three rows of seats in. The IIHS named the 2013 Dodge Durango as one of its Top Safety Picks for 2012.
2013 Dodge Journey
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$21,735
The Dodge Journey has been quietly gaining fans after a somewhat lackluster introduction in 2008. A mid-cycle refresh significantly upgraded the interior, exterior, and drivetrain, and the Journey's sales have gained as well. There's a lot to like here, too. The optional third row expands the Journey's passenger hauling capabilities, but the 2013 Dodge Journey is still smaller than many of the other vehicles on this list, making it easier to maneuver in parking lots. The Journey scored five stars overall in the NHTSA's crash tests, and earned at Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. While you'd probably have to be under 8 years old to enjoy a long trip in the third row, it's handy when you need it, and overall the Journey is worth a look.
2013 Ford Explorer
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$29,135
Of all the vehicles on our list, the 2013 Ford Explorer has been around the longest, continuously in production for over 23 years. Only the Dodge Durango can hold a candle to that, as it has been around for 14 years. The 2013 Ford Explorer comes with standard safety features like ABS, child locks for the rear doors, turn signals on the mirrors, traction control, and LATCH points. Other standard safety features include front seatbelt pretensioners, stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a post-collision safety system. For 2012, the IIHS awarded the Ford Explorer as a Top Safety Pick. You can pick up a 2013 Ford Explorer starting at $29,135.
2013 Ford Flex
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$30,885
Ford's second entrant in our list is a cult favorite, meaning that it quietly has collected a legion of fans while the mainstream consumer just thinks it's a funky looking box on wheels. For a starting price of $30,885, you too can become part of this secret Ford Flex club. Not only does it bring you the distinction of driving a different looking vehicle, but it's rated at 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick of 2012. New features for 2013 include redesigned exterior styling, a tweaked version MyFord Touch, parking assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Standard safety features include ABS, traction and stability control, an engine immobilizer, electronic brakeforce distribution, LATCH points, airbag deployment notification, post-collision safety system, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
2012 GMC Acadia
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$34,060
A platform mate for the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave, the GMC Acadia shares similar safety features as its counterparts but offers some added refinement, too. The Acadia, Traverse, and Enclave all share General Motors' "Lambda" unibody construction, which lowers the big crossovers' center of gravity compared to a ladder-frame, truck-based SUV. That, in turn, lessens the chance of a rollover. Standard safety features include seven airbags positioned throughout the cabin, two seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the front row, curtain side impact air bags for all three rows, and one in the center console. It also has a rollover detection system. Other standard safety features include ABS, a remote anti-theft alarm system, stability and traction control, front seatbelt pretensioners, and a post-collision safety system.
2013 Honda Pilot
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$29,420
Launched in 2002 as a 2003 model, Honda's large crossover offers an array of safety features starting at $29,420. Standard safety features in the Honda Pilot include ABS, emergency braking assist, child locks on the rear doors, an engine immobilizer, stability control, and height adjustable headrests in both the front and back seats. Other standard safety features include LATCH points, daytime running lights, front seatbelt pretensioners, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The 2013 Honda Pilot earned one of the IIHS's Top Safety Pick spots for 2012.
2013 Mazda CX-9
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$29,725
The 2012 Mazda CX-9 lands on our list starting at $29,725. You may not know it unless you drive one, but the Mazda CX-9 is undoubtedly one of the most fun full-size SUVs to drive currently on the market. The 2007 Mazda CX-9 started it all with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine sourced from Ford. When tuned for the CX-9, the V-6 engine is rated at 263 horsepower. Standard safety features on the 2012 Mazda CX-9 include ABS, child locks for the rear doors, an engine immobilizer, stability and traction control, daytime running lights, and LATCH points.
2013 Toyota Highlander
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$28,870
Toyota's lone entrant to the list, the Highlander, can hold seven passengers while getting 25 mpg on the highway. The 2013 2013 Toyota Highlander offers standard safety features like driver and front passenger airbags, three-point seatbelts for every seat, LATCH points, child locks for the rear doors, a collapsible steering column, hill start, and an anti-theft system with an alarm and engine immobilizer. You can get your hands on a brand new 2013 Toyota Highlander for $28,870, and it comes with the accolade of being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2012.