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Best-of list

Highest NHTSA Overall Ratings: Hatchbacks (2020–2025)

Ranked by NHTSA crash-test ratings across 26 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 Owner-complaint lists (raw volume, not exposure-adjusted) remain unpublished until exposure and time-at-risk normalization are available.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. 1

    2020 Chevrolet Sonic

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    10

    Crash

    MPG

    29

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  2. 2

    2020 Honda Fit

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    35

    Crash

    MPG

    33

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  3. 3

    2021 Mazda Mazda2

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    0

    Crash

    MPG

    Not on record

  4. 4

    2020 Mazda Mazda2

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    0

    Crash

    MPG

    Not on record

  5. 5

    2021 Nissan Leaf

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    51

    Crash

    MPG

    108

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  6. 6

    2020 Nissan Leaf

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    158

    Crash

    MPG

    108

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  7. 7

    2025 Toyota Prius

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    17

    Crash

    MPG

    57

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  8. 8

    2024 Toyota Prius

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    22

    Crash

    MPG

    57

    Watch for: unknown or other complaints

  9. 9

    2023 Toyota Prius

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    18

    Crash

    MPG

    57

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  10. 10

    2022 Toyota Prius

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    24

    Crash

    MPG

    52

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  11. 11

    2021 Toyota Prius

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    6

    Crash

    MPG

    52

  12. 12

    2020 Toyota Prius

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    14

    Crash

    MPG

    52

    Watch for: unknown or other complaints

  13. 13

    2021 Volkswagen Golf

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    6

    Crash

    MPG

    32.5

  14. 14

    2020 Volkswagen Golf

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    6

    Crash

    MPG

    31.5

  15. 15

    2025 Kia Soul

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    11

    Crash

    MPG

    30

    Watch for: exterior lighting complaints

  16. 16

    2024 Kia Soul

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    28

    Crash

    MPG

    30

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  17. 17

    2023 Kia Soul

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    48

    Crash

    MPG

    30

    Watch for: electrical system complaints

  18. 18

    2022 Kia Soul

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    88

    Crash

    MPG

    29.5

    Watch for: engine complaints

  19. 19

    2021 Kia Soul

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    222

    Crash

    MPG

    29

    Watch for: engine complaints

  20. 20

    2020 Kia Soul

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Raw count · not exposure-adjusted

    Complaints

    363

    Crash

    MPG

    29

    Watch for: engine complaints

  21. 21

    2024 Mitsubishi Mirage

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    9

    Crash

    MPG

    39

  22. 22

    2023 Mitsubishi Mirage

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    5

    Crash

    MPG

    37.5

  23. 23

    2022 Mitsubishi Mirage

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    5

    Crash

    MPG

    37.5

  24. 24

    2021 Mitsubishi Mirage

    Hatchback

    Complaint record

    Too few reports to rank

    Complaints

    3

    Crash

    MPG

    37.5

Related searches

Common questions

What is the highest NHTSA-rated 2020–2025 hatchback?

By our reading of the federal data, the 2020 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.