Best-of list

Highest NHTSA Overall Ratings: Hatchbacks (2012–2016)

Ranked by NHTSA crash-test ratings across 51 model-years of federal data.

Safety and fuel-economy results are ranked from NHTSA and EPA federal data. Owner-complaint lists (raw volume, not exposure-adjusted) remain unpublished until exposure and time-at-risk normalization are available.

NHTSA says overall scores should only be compared within the same vehicle class and at roughly similar curb weights. Treat this as a shortlist, not a complete safety verdict; 2010 scores are excluded because NHTSA changed the rating system for 2011.

Common questions

What is the highest NHTSA-rated 2012–2016 hatchback?

By our reading of the federal data, the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic tops this list. Open its verdict page for the full complaint, recall and crash record before you buy.

How is this ranking put together?

We rank the 24 matching model years by NHTSA overall crash-test rating, using public NHTSA and EPA data. Owner-complaint lists (raw volume, not exposure-adjusted) remain unpublished until exposure and time-at-risk normalization are available.

This list is generated from NHTSA complaint, recall and crash-test data and EPA fuel-economy data; it is not sales-adjusted and updates on scheduled source refreshes.

Highest NHTSA Overall Ratings: Hatchbacks (2012–2016)

2016 Chevrolet Sonic

2015 Chevrolet Sonic

2014 Chevrolet Sonic

2013 Chevrolet Sonic

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

2016 Ford Focus

2015 Ford Focus

2014 Ford Focus

2013 Ford Focus

2016 Honda Fit

2015 Honda Fit

2016 Hyundai Veloster

2015 Hyundai Veloster

2014 Hyundai Veloster

2016 Kia Soul

2015 Kia Soul

2014 Kia Soul

2012 Nissan Leaf

2016 Toyota Prius

2013 Toyota Prius

2012 Toyota Prius

2016 Volkswagen Beetle

2015 Volkswagen Beetle

2014 Volkswagen Beetle

Related searches

Common questions

What is the highest NHTSA-rated 2012–2016 hatchback?

How is this ranking put together?