Best-of list
Highest NHTSA Overall Ratings: Hatchbacks (2018–2022)
Ranked by NHTSA crash-test ratings across 38 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 Owner-complaint lists (raw volume, not exposure-adjusted) remain unpublished until exposure and time-at-risk normalization are available.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.
- 1
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
73
Crash
MPG
119
Watch for: steering complaints
- 2
2020 Chevrolet Sonic
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
10
Crash
MPG
29
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 3
2019 Chevrolet Sonic
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
8
Crash
MPG
30
- 4
2018 Chevrolet Sonic
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
14
Crash
MPG
29.5
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 5
2018 Ford Focus
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
823
Crash
MPG
29.5
Watch for: power train complaints
- 6
2020 Honda Fit
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
35
Crash
MPG
33
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 7
2019 Honda Fit
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
134
Crash
MPG
33
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 8
2018 Honda Fit
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
114
Crash
MPG
33
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 9
2019 Kia Soul
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
136
Crash
MPG
27.5
Watch for: engine complaints
- 10
2018 Kia Soul
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
214
Crash
MPG
27
Watch for: engine complaints
- 11
2021 Mazda Mazda2
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
0
Crash
MPG
Not on record
- 12
2020 Mazda Mazda2
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
0
Crash
MPG
Not on record
- 13
2019 Mazda Mazda2
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
0
Crash
MPG
Not on record
- 14
2018 Mazda Mazda2
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
0
Crash
MPG
Not on record
- 15
2021 Nissan Leaf
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
51
Crash
MPG
108
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 16
2020 Nissan Leaf
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
158
Crash
MPG
108
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 17
2022 Toyota Prius
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
24
Crash
MPG
52
Watch for: electrical system complaints
- 18
2021 Toyota Prius
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
6
Crash
MPG
52
- 19
2020 Toyota Prius
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
14
Crash
MPG
52
Watch for: unknown or other complaints
- 20
2019 Toyota Prius
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
29
Crash
MPG
52
Watch for: unknown or other complaints
- 21
2018 Toyota Prius
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
36
Crash
MPG
52
Watch for: exterior lighting complaints
- 22
2021 Volkswagen Golf
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
6
Crash
MPG
32.5
- 23
2020 Volkswagen Golf
HatchbackComplaint record
Too few reports to rank
Complaints
6
Crash
MPG
31.5
- 24
2019 Volkswagen Golf
HatchbackComplaint record
Raw count · not exposure-adjusted
Complaints
93
Crash
MPG
32
Watch for: engine complaints
Related searches
Common questions
What is the highest NHTSA-rated 2018–2022 hatchback?
By our reading of the federal data, the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV 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.