As you might expect, in the U.S. today, sports cars and compact cars are statistically more dangerous for occupants than other larger vehicle classes. This is because the former are more powerful and often driven at higher speeds. The latter are simply so tiny compared to popular SUVs and trucks that they fare poorly in a car accident with anything bigger than them.

Despite this logic, the actual vehicle death tolls themselves have me gawking. In 2022, the IIHS reported 42,514 deaths from car crashes in the United States. Shockingly, several models tend to add to the number at a clipping pace compared to others.

7 deadliest cars on U.S. roads in 2024

According to the above data source, experts estimate that the average vehicle on U.S. roads accounts for about 2.6 fatalities per billion miles driven. Let’s take a closer look at these seven deadliest cars.

Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mirage is a cheap subcompact car. In 2023, the IIHS gave it a “Marginal” rating for the “Small overlap front: driver-side” test. Back in 2014, the group’s video of the same test resulted in a “Poor” rating. Yowsa, this clip is a bit hard to watch, but here it is:

All things considered, the Mitsubishi Mirage has a near-astonishing death rate: It’s quadruple that of the industry average.

Chevrolet Corvette

Now, MotorBiscuit is generally enthusiastic about the Chevrolet Corvette. We love its price point compared to the performance it buys drivers. It’s arguably a “supercar for the people.” However, neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA have tested the Corvette’s safety. However, the Corvette has a quiet reputation for being one of the deadliest cars on U.S. roads. This is due to the vehicle’s small frame compared to its incredible power. Some feel that aggressive drivers or folks inexperienced with high-performance cars pick the Corvette for its financial accessibility compared to its foreign competitors. These demographics, paired with its physical traits and specs, could lead to more tragic accidents.

Honda Fit

Admittedly, I was surprised to see the Honda Fit so high on the list. While it was discontinued after 2020, it generally received high marks on IIHS crash ratings. However, its headlights got slapped with a “Marginal” and “Poor” rating depending on the trim. Still, I wonder if its size compared to other cars on the road is the issue here. After all, it’s a subcompact four-door wagon with a pretty short snout. Front-end collisions with larger cars, then, are sure to result in increased fatalities.

The Kia Forte and Chevrolet Spark are really no surprise here.

The combo of their compact frames and economy class position may put them on “most affordable cars” lists. Unfortunately, it also lands them spots as some of the deadliest cars.

Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ was a bit of a wild card, though. Sure, it’s a Subaru, so as expected, it earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award in 2022. But the $30K two-door sports coupe touts 228 horsepower and buyers can option a six-speed manual transmission. So, perhaps that “aggressive” or “performance freshman” driver profile comes into play.

Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z was discontinued after 2020. It was another affordable and high-powered two-door sports coupe. Its 3.7L V6 made up to 350 horsepower. Reviewers say the automaker delivered the 370Z without many modern safety features considered standard on most cars. To boot, it lacked any formal crash test ratings. As such, it landed on this deadliest cars list.

While affordability and performance are huge motivators for car shoppers, safety must be considered, too. It’s best to think hard about whether a vehicle, especially one of the deadliest cars on U.S. roads, is worth any morbid statistic.