10 Luxury Cars with 5-Star Safety Ratings

2018 Lincoln MKZ ruby red rearprofile ・ Photo by Lincoln

Luxury cars with 5-Star Safety Ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) aren’t as common as you might think. For example, full-size flagship sedans from BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz aren’t on the list, and neither are the ultra-lux alternatives from Bentley or Rolls-Royce. You may be surprised, but NHTSA tests none of those cars in the first place. Some reasonably high-end cars are evaluated, however, and we’ve got some of the most luxurious ones on this list.

All earn their honors with top scores in all three of the NHTSA testing areas: side-impact protection, frontal-impact protection, and roof strength in rollover scenarios. We’ll also provide info about NHTSA’s “Recommended Safety Technologies,” (although these aren’t technically part of the vehicles’ overall safety scores).

2018 Audi S6

To be clear, the 2018 Audi A6 does also qualify as one of the luxury cars with 5-Star Ratings from NHTSA (complete with 5-Star Ratings in all three individual testing categories,) but we prefer the 2018 Audi S6. It has both the same ratings and the same safety technologies, with the key difference being under the hood, where the S6 features a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that delivers 450 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. With this engine on board, the S6 can record a 0-60 sprint time of 4.4 seconds. The S6 also includes automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. The S6 showcases similar indulgences as the A6, such as available 18-way power-adjustable front seats with Valcona leather surfaces, heat, ventilation, and a massage function.

Photo by Audi

2018 BMW 3 Series

We already mentioned that the BMW 7 Series wasn’t tested by NHTSA, and neither were the 6, 5, or 4 Series models, which means the 2018 BMW 3 Series sedan is next in our gallery of luxury cars with 5-Star Ratings. The 3 Series offers forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking, all of which are among NHTSA’s Recommended Safety Technologies. As for the Insurance Institue for Highway Safety (IIHS), that organization recognized the 3 Series sedan as a Top Safety Pick for the 2018 model year. While the 3 Series isn’t quite as richly appointed as its higher-numbered siblings, it can supply upscale cues like a full leather cabin, heated front seats, real wood cabin trim, and full LED headlights.

Photo by BMW

2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Looking for luxury cars with 5-Star Ratings from NHTSA and a truly premium ownership experience? We suggest the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The E-Class sedan gets things rolling with 5-stars in all aspects of NHTSA testing. Plus, with the highest possible scores in all IIHS testing, the E-Class achieves a full Top Safety Pick+ certification. The E-Class then goes all-in with extravagant content like Nappa leather upholstery for its heated and ventilated active multi-contour front seats. They provide eight massage programs including two with a “hot-stone” effect. Another impressive effect comes with optional side-by-side 12.3-inch video displays, one for a virtual instrument cluster and one for a primary infotainment screen. Both are united under a single 24.6-inch sheet of glass for an extreme wide-screen look.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2018 Lexus ES

Our list of 10 Luxury Cars with 5-Star Ratings also include the 2018 Lexus ES. The ES also has one of the segment’s most comprehensive bundles of standard driver-assistance technology. This bundle features adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and a rearview camera. Meanwhile, the car’s “Ultra Luxury Package” more than lives up to its name. Checking this box on the ES order sheet brings such opulent touches as semi-aniline leather seating and genuine wood cabin trim. In fact, customers can choose from Bird’s-eye Maple, Bamboo or engineered “Mocha” wood. Naturally, the seats can be heated and ventilated as well. The package also has a treat just for the driver - a power-operated seat-cushion extender for extra thigh support.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Cadillac CTS

Part of a select group of 10 Luxury Cars with 5-Star Ratings, the 2018 Cadillac CTS has top marks in each of the three individual testing categories from NHTSA. In terms of Recommended Safety Technologies, the CTS also matches rivals with the trio of forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. Tougher to match, though, is the amount of premium equipment available for the CTS cabin. One highlight is the car’s handcrafted interior, which can be detailed by a full application of supple semi-aniline leather and Sapele, Olive Ash or Elm accents. Needless to say, the range-topping CTS front seats are heated and ventilated, and they have 20-way power adjustability. The V-Sport trim kicks everything up a notch with a 420-horsepower twin-turbo V6.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Lincoln Continental

Full-size luxury cars with NHTSA 5-Star Ratings are especially rare. Yet there is at least one strong choice in this segment, the 2018 Lincoln Continental. Also backed by a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, the Continental extends its focus on occupant protection with technologies like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and a blind-spot system. All that and more comes standard in the range-topping Black Label trim, which features four carefully curated interior design themes. Any can be configured with Lincoln’s “Perfect Position” seats for nearly throne-like front-row comfort. These 30-way power-adjustable seats supply heat, ventilation, and a relaxing massage function, and they’re wrapped in soft leather that was developed specifically for Lincoln by the Scottish hide experts at Bridge of Weir.

Photo by Lincoln

2018 Acura RLX

The 2018 Acura RLX is available with two distinct powertrains, but technically, our gallery of luxury cars with 5-star Ratings contains only one of them. That would be the standard setup that relies on a highly competitive 3.5-liter V6. Capable of delivering 310 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque, this unit is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a high-tech four-wheel steering system. A full complement of Acura safety technology is also standard, as are Milano leather seats and cabin surfaces. As a further bonus, the full-size RLX is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The car’s second powertrain? Despite not being tested by NHTSA, models with this sport-hybrid system enjoy 377 horsepower and 341 pound-feet of torque, electrically assisted all-wheel drive, and more lavish accommodations.

Photo by Acura

2018 Audi A4

A handful of companies offer multiple luxury cars with 5-Star Ratings (and Top Safety Pick honors.) The Four-rings brand, for instance, with the 2018 Audi A4 also on our list. It’s the compact sedan from the Audi lineup, but don’t worry, it still shows off big-time safety technologies such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. The A4 also offers a driver-assistance measure more often found on flagships. Called “Turn assist,” this technology can detect oncoming traffic if you’re making a low-speed left turn, then intervene to help mitigate the chance of a collision. There is also no shortage of elegant accouterments, including premium materials like soft leathers, real aluminum, and genuine oak and walnut accents.

Photo by Audi

2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Luxury cars with 5-Star Ratings from Mercedes also include the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Again, the C-Class is a compact premium sedan with an extensive array of safety resources. Here, the standard highlights alone include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a rearview camera, and a drowsy-driver alert. The C-Class can also be ordered with popular safety measures such as a blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assistance, and automatic parking assistance. To appeal to customer demand for an exceptional cabin environment, the car can be specified with black Nappa leather seats that are set off by Platinum Pearl White diamond-quilted Nappa-leather inserts. The same chairs are also fully climate-controlled for all-weather comfort.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2018 Lincoln MKZ

The 2018 Lincoln MKZ brings a unique advantage to our list of 10 Luxury Cars with 5-Star Ratings - it’s the only brand with a hybrid model that’s been tested individually by NHTSA. When that powertrain is placed beneath the car’s hood, EP ratings spike to 41 mpg city/38 mpg highway/40 mpg combined, which works out to a 67 percent increase in combined mpg over the non-hybrid MKZ. It’s also worth noting that designers paid the same sort of attention to detail in the MKZ cabin as they did in the previously mentioned Continental. One exquisite touch is a steering wheel wrapped in hand-stitched Wollsdorf cowhide, sourced from the Alpine region of Central Europe.

Photo by Lincoln