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10 Safest Luxury Cars For 2018

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Acura RLX

The big and plush Acura RLX may be a slow seller, but it gets top scores across the board in both IIHS’ and NHTSA’s crash tests. The RLX also comes standard with a full array of advanced accident avoidance features, including blind spot and rear cross-traffic warnings, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist systems, and a forward collision warning with a Superior-rated (by the IIHS) forward auto-braking system.

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Audi A3

The Audi A3 sedan comes standard with forward collision warning plus a low-speed auto-braking system that can help avoid fender-benders; a high-speed auto-braking system is optional, as is the full range of high-tech accident avoidance features. Be aware that this is the smallest and lightest luxury car on our list, and despite its lofty ratings and sophisticated features, the laws of physics dictate that it can’t be expected to perform as well in a crash with a larger and heavier car or truck.

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Audi A4

As with its smaller A3 sibling, the Audi A4 sedan gets top marks from both NHTSA and the IIHS for crashworthiness, and it comes standard with a collision warning system and low-speed auto-braking, with higher-speed auto-braking and four other advanced safety systems optional.

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Genesis G80

The posh and potent midsize Genesis G80 (formerly known as the Hyundai Genesis) not only gets top scores in all conducted crash tests, it comes standard with forward collision warning, both city and highway-speed auto-braking systems, along with blind spot, lane departure, and cross-traffic alerts, and a lane keeping system.

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Genesis G90

The Genesis G90 is the brand’s largest car; it was originally badged as the Hyundai Equus before the company launched its Genesis luxury division. The G90 gets top marks for safety from the IIHS, but has yet to be crash-tested by NHTSA. As with the G80 above, it comes standard with the full assortment of high-tech safety features including a top-rated forward auto-braking system.

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Lexus ES

The popular midsize Lexus ES 350 has long been a safe and sane choice among luxury sedans, getting top marks in crash tests and coming standard with a top-performing forward collision warning and auto-braking system, and a lane departure warning system with a lane-keeping function. A blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert is optional.

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Lexus IS

The Lexus IS sedan is a BMW 3 Series fighter that stands out by virtue of its Superior-rated auto-braking system and assortment of standard accident-avoidance features, including forward collision warning, forward auto-braking, and a lane departure warning system with a lane-keeping function. A blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert is optional, while all of the above features are extra-cost items in the Beemer.

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Elegantly styled and a solid overall performer, the midsize Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan gets top marks in crash tests and comes standard with a Superior-rated forward collision warning/auto-braking system, though all the other essential high-tech accident avoidance systems are optional.

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Volvo V60

The Volvo V60 is the station wagon version of the above S60 sedan, and like that model it aces all the requisite crash tests, comes standard with the aforementioned low-speed auto-braking system, and offers a highway-speed version optional, along with forward collision, lane departure, blind spot, and rear cross traffic warnings, and a lane keeping system.

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Volvo S60

The Volvo S60 sedan is sportier to drive than some past Volvo owners might expect, yet it retains the brand’s reputation for safety with top marks in both IIHS and NHTSA crash tests, and by offering a wide assortment of the latest safety features. It’s auto-braking features are Superior rated by the IIHS, with a low-speed “City Safety” system coming standard that can brake to avoid hitting other cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, and even large animals like deer and elk.

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Apr 28, 2018 at 9:57am ET

By: Jim Gorzelany

Here are 10 upscale autos that ace crash tests and offer top-performing accident avoidance systems.

Luxury cars have long been considered among the safest rides on the road, in large part because this class of vehicles tends to debut the latest occupant protection and accident avoidance features, from airbags and antilock brakes in the 1980s to today’s advanced auto-braking and lane keeping systems. But, as an analysis of vehicle crash tests and other evaluations show, some top-shelf cars offer greater occupant protection and do a better job of preventing a collision than others.

We scoured the results of crash tests conducted by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as well as the latter’s ongoing evaluation of headlamp performance and forward-collision-preventing auto-braking systems, and considered the availability of other high-tech safety features to arrive at the accompanying slideshow of the 10 safest luxury cars for the 2018 model year.

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What's Behind New-Car Crash-Test Ratings?

All receive top "Good" marks in the IIHS’s battery of crash tests and (except for one model that’s not yet been tested) earn perfect five-star overall crashworthiness ratings from NHTSA. Each comes standard with a forward auto-braking system that’s received a “Superior” rating from the IIHS; that means the car is able to avoid a crash or reduce speeds by at least 5 mph in two separate tests conducted at 12 and 25 mph. Each also scores an "Acceptable" or "Good" grade in headlamp performance tests, though the top-performing units in this regard are typically optional or only included on higher trim levels.

Unfortunately, the IIHS nor NHTSA only tests mainstream production vehicles, which means lower-volume flagship luxury sedans like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and Porsche Panamera, as well as models from brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce aren’t included here. New models also tend to get short changed here, simply because the organizations haven’t gotten around to testing them yet.

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