As crooks continue to get smarter and take advantage of more technology, car theft is on the rise. In 2020 alone, vehicle thefts jumped by nearly 10%, with 873,080 cars stolen or stripped of essential parts. Some devices can help you protect your vehicles, such as dashboard cameras and Apple AirTags.
Fortunately, if your car isn’t valuable or popular, thieves will likely ignore it. Interestingly, some of the most expensive luxury models also deter theft through state-of-the-art safety technology. Below are the top three cars that can fend off even the most determined thieves.
But first, some honorable mentions
Some vehicles have great safety technology, but their sheer size makes them hard to steal.
According to Autoversed, that’s the case for the Mercedes-Benz GL 550. It has a curb weight of 5,578 pounds and measures over 202 feet long. Plus, it has its own burglary alarm system.
The GL 550 modified by TAC (Texas Armoring Corporation) boasts bulletproof windows, HotCars reports. That’s an extra layer of protection if you a carjacker targets you.
Also, the Audi A4 is equipped with a sensitive alarm system that will send thieves running. Of course, a would-be burglar might also run away from an A4 if they’re aware of its maintenance requirements.
Although the A4 is reliable, replacement parts are difficult to obtain once they experience too much wear and tear. And stealing the parts instead is nearly impossible, thanks to that anti-theft system.
The 3 models that are hardest for car thieves to steal
Tesla EVs, including the Model X (pictured), are hard to steal | Rich Fury/Getty Images for AYS Sports Marketing
Forbes measures the most-stolen vehicles in the United States using the theft-claim frequency scale. A vehicle is assigned a number based on how many theft claims were filed in the total insured years. The average number is 100, but the BMW 3-Series front-wheel-drive sedan has a rating of only 4.
According to Business Insider, only a single BMW 3-Series FWD sedan was stolen out of 104,901 insured vehicle years. The all-wheel-drive models have a higher theft-claim frequency, but 21 is still relatively low. All models have a security alarm system and an engine immobilizer that activates when someone uses a counterfeit key.
The Tesla Model S sedan is also hard to steal, with a theft-claim frequency of 11. Most thieves know that any Model S owner can track their EV using a smartphone. Even if the thief deactivated the tracker by hacking it, the car would send a theft notification to Tesla.
This is also why the Tesla Model X SUV isn’t stolen often, with a theft-claim frequency of 12. The Model X retails for about $100,000, so you’d think it would be a thief magnet. However, that high price also means fewer people own one, meaning a stolen model would draw more attention.
Non-luxury models that are difficult for car thieves to break into
The @volkswagenindia #Tiguan is back with a nose job & a petrol heart. So, does it make us miss its diesel predecessor? #Volkswagen #VW https://t.co/MgvgQPaTbV
— autoX (@autox) January 18, 2022
Unfortunately, some of the most affordable cars are also the easiest to steal. Reader’s Digest cites the Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, and Ford F-150 as vehicles with the least protection from thieves. Still, not all non-luxury vehicles are easy targets. For example, the Chevy Equinox has a theft-claim frequency of only 15.
Despite the Volkswagen Tiguan’s affordable price, it comes with many advanced anti-theft features. You can track it with a smartphone just as you can with a Tesla, and the Tiguan has an engine immobilizer.
The Hyundai Tucson’s immobilizer is also an excellent deterrent against theft. Even better, the wires to disable the car alarm are hidden away from the most common spot (behind the horn).
Keyword: These Are the Vehicles That Are Too Tough to Break Into for Car Thieves to Even Think About Stealing