High-Speed Performance
Basic systems work at low speeds. The best brake hard and early at highway speeds, where front-to-rear crashes do the most damage. This is the core of the tougher new test.
Safety Systems · Atlanta Buyer's Guide
Best Cars With Automatic Emergency Braking
Nearly every new car now has automatic emergency braking, so the real question is not who has it, but whose works best. These models earn the top independent safety ratings for the systems that actually stop the car, and every one is available to shop online at Nalley in Atlanta.
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The Short Answer
The best AEB is the one that passes the toughest test
Because automatic emergency braking is now standard on nearly every new vehicle, the models worth seeking out are the ones whose systems earn top marks in the toughest independent testing. Recent standouts include the Subaru Forester and Crosstrek Hybrid, the Mazda CX-30, CX-5, and CX-50, and the Honda Pilot and Civic, all of which earn the highest safety honors partly on the strength of their crash-prevention systems. What separates them is performance at higher speeds and detection of pedestrians, day and night.
Start Here
Why This List Is About Quality, Not Availability
A few years ago, a guide to cars with automatic emergency braking would have been a list of which models offered it. That guide is now obsolete. Through a voluntary industry commitment brokered by safety regulators, virtually every automaker made front automatic emergency braking standard across nearly all of its vehicles, well ahead of schedule, and a federal rule is phasing in even stronger requirements. In practice, if you buy almost any new car today, it has AEB.
So the useful question changed. It is no longer whether a car has the system, but how well that system works, and the gap between the best and the rest is real. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an independent, insurance-funded lab, made its front crash prevention test much tougher, adding higher speeds and scenarios involving motorcycles and large trucks, precisely because the old test had become too easy to pass. This page ranks cars on that harder standard, so you are choosing a system proven to prevent the crashes that still happen, not just one that checks a box.
Know the Terms
What the Ratings Actually Mean
A handful of terms come up whenever safety systems are compared. Knowing them makes it easy to read a window sticker or a ratings page and understand what you are really getting.
Automatic Emergency Braking
The system that detects an imminent collision and applies the brakes automatically if the driver does not react in time. Research shows it prevents up to half of front-to-rear crashes.
Top Safety Pick+
The highest honor from the IIHS. It requires top crash scores plus a good pedestrian crash-prevention rating and a pass on the newest, tougher vehicle-to-vehicle test.
Top Safety Pick
The strong second tier. It requires the same excellent crash protection and standard AEB, with a slightly lower bar on the pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicle prevention tests.
Pedestrian Detection
An AEB system that also recognizes and brakes for people in the road, now tested in both daylight and darkness, when most pedestrian fatalities occur.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle 2.0
The IIHS's tougher updated test, evaluating braking at higher speeds and against motorcycles and semi-trailers. Passing it is the hardest requirement for a top rating.
The Data
Top-Rated Crash Prevention at a Glance
A quick reference to standout models and their top IIHS safety honors, which reflect strong automatic emergency braking among other tests. Use it to shortlist, then read the picks below for the detail.
| Model | IIHS Honor | Class | AEB Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Forester | Top Safety Pick+ | Compact SUV | Top small-SUV crash prevention |
| Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid | Top Safety Pick+ | Subcompact SUV | Good vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 |
| Mazda CX-5 | Top Safety Pick+ | Compact SUV | Good pedestrian, day and night |
| Mazda CX-30 | Top Safety Pick+ | Subcompact SUV | Strong across the board |
| Mazda CX-50 | Top Safety Pick+ | Compact SUV | Strong across the board |
| Honda Pilot | Top Safety Pick+ | Midsize SUV | Best-rated three-row |
| Honda Civic | Top Safety Pick+ | Compact Car | Top-rated affordable car |
| Toyota Camry | Top Safety Pick+ | Midsize Car | Standard on every trim |
| Toyota Tundra | Top Safety Pick | Full-Size Truck | Best-rated pickup class |
Honors reflect recent IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards, which require standard automatic emergency braking along with strong crash-test and crash-prevention results. Awards can depend on build date and trim; confirm the rating for a specific vehicle before you buy.
What Separates the Best
How to Judge an AEB System
Not all automatic emergency braking is equal, even though nearly every car has it. These are the differences that decide whether a system actually prevents a crash rather than just softening one.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection
A strong system recognizes people and bikes, not just cars, and brakes for them. The best now do this in the dark, when most pedestrian deaths happen.
Standard on Every Trim
The safest choice makes qualifying AEB standard across the whole model line, so the protection is not reserved for buyers who option up to a pricier trim.
Junction and Reverse Braking
Advanced systems add braking for cross-traffic at intersections and behind you when reversing, covering the situations where drivers are most often caught off guard.
Few False Activations
A good system reads the road accurately and rarely brakes for a phantom hazard. Reliability matters, because a system drivers trust is one they leave switched on.
Bundled Safety Suite
AEB works best alongside lane-keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and high-beam assist. Insurance data shows the benefits grow when these systems work together.
The Ranking
Nine Cars With the Best-Rated AEB
Chosen for top independent safety ratings that reflect strong crash-prevention systems, spanning body styles and price points. Each shop button opens live Nalley inventory for that model.
1Best-Rated Small SUV
Subaru Forester
The Forester has been a crash-prevention standout, earning a good rating in the tougher front crash prevention test where most small SUVs fell short, and it has carried Top Safety Pick+ honors. Subaru's EyeSight system, standard across the line, uses a stereo camera setup that testers consistently praise for reading the road early. For an Atlanta buyer who wants the best-rated safety in a practical, affordable SUV, it is the benchmark.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: the best-rated small-SUV safety
Shop Forester →
2Best Efficient Safety Pick
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
The Crosstrek Hybrid pairs top-tier crash prevention with efficiency, earning Top Safety Pick+ on the strength of a good rating in the toughest vehicle-to-vehicle test, a bar most hybrids do not clear. It brings Subaru's well-regarded EyeSight safety suite and standard all-wheel drive to a compact, fuel-sipping package. For a buyer who wants leading safety and low running costs together, it is a rare combination.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: top safety plus efficiency
3Best-Rated Compact SUV
Mazda CX-5
In its latest generation, the CX-5 earns Top Safety Pick+ with good ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle prevention test and the pedestrian test that now measures performance day and night. It is a meaningful jump over the prior version and pairs that safety with Mazda's upscale interior and engaging drive. For buyers who want a compact SUV that feels a class above and tests at the top, it is a standout.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: premium feel with top-tier safety
Shop CX-5 →
4Best Small Crossover
Mazda CX-30
The CX-30 proves top-rated safety does not require a big vehicle or a big budget. It earns Top Safety Pick+ with strong scores across crashworthiness and crash prevention, and its standard i-Activsense suite brings pedestrian-aware AEB, lane keeping, and more to an accessible subcompact. For a city-friendly Atlanta commuter that still tests at the very top, it is hard to beat.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: top safety in a small, affordable package
Shop CX-30 →
5Best Rugged Crossover
Mazda CX-50
The more outdoorsy CX-50 rounds out Mazda's trio of Top Safety Pick+ crossovers, combining rugged styling and available all-wheel-drive capability with the same top-rated safety systems. It is the pick for a buyer who wants a bit of trail character without giving up the leading crash-prevention scores that define this list. Standard i-Activsense safety tech carries through the range.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: outdoor style with top-rated safety
Shop CX-50 →
6Best-Rated 3-Row
Honda Pilot
Families who need three rows do not have to compromise on safety. The Pilot earns Top Safety Pick+ honors, backed by Honda Sensing, which brings collision-mitigation braking with pedestrian detection standard across the lineup. Improvements to rear-seat protection helped it clear the tougher bar. For a large family SUV that tests among the safest in its class, the Pilot leads.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: the best-rated three-row family SUV
Shop Pilot →
7Best-Rated Affordable Car
Honda Civic
The Civic shows leading safety is not just for SUVs. It earns Top Safety Pick+ with standard Honda Sensing, delivering pedestrian-aware automatic emergency braking on one of the most affordable, efficient, and practical cars on the road. For a first car, a commuter, or anyone who wants top-tier crash prevention at an entry price, the Civic is the smart-money safety pick, new or certified.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: top safety at the lowest price
Shop Civic →
8Best-Rated Sedan
Toyota Camry
Now hybrid across the range, the Camry earns Top Safety Pick+ and comes with Toyota Safety Sense standard on every trim, so its pedestrian-detecting automatic emergency braking is never an upcharge. Add legendary reliability and strong resale, and it is one of the most sensible safety-first buys in any segment. For a family sedan that protects and holds its value, the Camry is a default choice.
IIHS honor: Top Safety Pick+Best for: standard safety on a dependable sedan
Shop Camry →
9Best-Rated Truck
Toyota Tundra
Pickups have historically lagged on safety ratings, which makes the Tundra crew cab's Top Safety Pick honor notable. It brings Toyota Safety Sense with automatic emergency braking standard to a full-size truck that also tows and hauls, so buyers who need a workhorse no longer have to sacrifice top-rated crash prevention to get one. It is the safety-minded pick in the full-size truck class.
IIHS honor: Top Safety PickBest for: a safety-rated full-size truck
Shop Tundra →
Buying Used
What to Know About AEB on a Used Car
Older Does Not Always Mean Less Safe
Because automakers made front automatic emergency braking standard across nearly all vehicles several years ago, most late-model used cars already have it, often the same core system as the current version. A certified pre-owned Forester, Civic, or Camry from the last few years typically includes pedestrian-aware AEB and can be a smart way to get top-tier safety for less. Two things to check: confirm the specific vehicle and trim actually include the system, since a few older or base examples may not, and verify there are no open recalls. Every Nalley vehicle includes a free CARFAX report, and the team can confirm both before you buy.
Why Nalley
Why Shop Safety-Rated Cars With Nalley in Atlanta
When the whole market has AEB, the value is in finding the models that test best and confirming the exact vehicle has what you want. A large, connected dealer group makes that simple.
Top-Rated Models in Stock
From the Subaru Forester to the Mazda CX-5, Honda Civic, and Toyota Camry, Nalley carries the top safety performers across its Atlanta dealerships, so you can compare the best-rated systems in one place.
New and Certified Pre-Owned
Because AEB has been standard for years, a certified pre-owned pick can deliver top-tier safety for less. Nalley stocks both, so you can match the safety you want to the budget you have.
Free CARFAX and Recall Checks
Every vehicle includes its history report, and the team can confirm the exact safety features and recall status on the specific car you are considering.
7-Day Return
Safety systems should feel right in daily driving. Buy the car, live with how it drives and alerts for a week, and if it is not the fit you expected, Nalley picks it up for a full refund.
Common Questions
Automatic Emergency Braking FAQs
Which car has the best automatic emergency braking?
Because AEB is now near-universal, the best systems are the ones that earn top marks in the toughest independent testing. Recent standouts include the Subaru Forester and Crosstrek Hybrid, the Mazda CX-30, CX-5, and CX-50, and the Honda Pilot and Civic, all Top Safety Pick+ winners whose ratings reflect strong crash-prevention systems. What sets them apart is high-speed braking and pedestrian detection in both day and night.
Do all new cars have automatic emergency braking now?Nearly all do. Through a voluntary industry commitment brokered by safety regulators, virtually every automaker made front AEB standard across almost all of its vehicles years ago, and a federal rule is phasing in even stronger requirements. In practice, almost any new car today has the system. That is why this guide focuses on which systems perform best rather than which cars simply include one.
What is the difference between Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+?Both are awards from the IIHS and both require excellent crash protection and standard automatic emergency braking. The higher Top Safety Pick+ adds tougher requirements: a good rating in the pedestrian crash-prevention test and a passing grade on the new, harder vehicle-to-vehicle test that includes higher speeds and scenarios with motorcycles and large trucks. A Top Safety Pick+ is the stronger safety signal.
How does automatic emergency braking work?AEB uses cameras, radar, or both to watch the road ahead for an imminent collision. If it detects one and the driver does not brake in time, the system applies the brakes automatically to prevent the crash or reduce its severity. The best systems also detect pedestrians and cyclists, work in darkness, and brake effectively at higher speeds. Research shows AEB can prevent up to half of front-to-rear crashes.
Can I turn automatic emergency braking off?Most vehicles let you disable forward collision warning sensitivity or related alerts, but the automatic braking function itself is designed to stay active for safety, and many systems reset to on each time you start the car. Because the feature works only when you need it and rarely activates otherwise, safety experts recommend leaving it on. If a system alerts too often for your taste, adjusting its sensitivity is usually possible.
Does automatic emergency braking work at night?The best systems do. Historically, many AEB systems struggled to detect pedestrians in the dark, which is when most pedestrian fatalities occur. The IIHS now tests pedestrian crash prevention in both daylight and darkness, and the top-rated models, including the latest Mazda CX-5, earn good ratings for nighttime performance. If night detection matters to you, look specifically for a good pedestrian rating.
Do used cars have automatic emergency braking?Most late-model used cars do. Because automakers made front AEB standard across nearly all vehicles several years ago, a used or certified pre-owned car from the last few years typically includes it, often the same system as the current model. This makes buying used a smart way to get top-tier safety for less. Always confirm the specific vehicle and trim include the feature, and check for open recalls, both of which Nalley can verify.
Can I buy a top-safety-rated car entirely online through Nalley?Yes. You can shop the inventory across Nalley's Atlanta dealerships, filter to the models and trims you want, get an instant trade value, and complete the purchase online with Clicklane, then choose delivery or pickup. Every vehicle includes a free CARFAX report and a 7-day return policy, so you can confirm the safety features and how the car drives before you fully commit.
Drive Confident
Find a Top-Safety-Rated Car at Nalley
Compare the best-rated crash-prevention systems across Nalley's Atlanta dealerships, in new and certified pre-owned, get an instant offer on your current car, and buy entirely online.