Older used cars are easy to steal since they may not have the latest and greatest anti-theft technologies. However, modern cars have better security in addition to owners practicing the usual anti-theft methods to prevent car thefts and break-ins. In fact, some of the latest modern cars are almost impossible to steal. Don’t believe it? Just ask the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has the mandate to report theft data. Cars with the most advanced anti-theft systems usually don't appear that often on the NHTSA theft report.
Updated June 2023: While vehicle anti-theft technology has been steadily improving over the past few years, criminals still manage to find loopholes and new ways of breaking into and stealing cars. We've updated this list with new, up-to-date information regarding keyless entry and provided some of the most secure cars in the current market.
As automakers invest in research, thieves invest in ways to bypass the latest technologies. What are the cars that any professional car thief would find very hard to steal due to their unique features? Here's a list of vehicles that no sane car thief would want to target. It mostly includes expensive luxury cars that owners would hate to lose, but there are also a few everyday models in there.
13 2023 Jaguar XF
Safety Feature: InControl Remote And Protect Services
If your Jaguar XF goes missing, you only need to use the Jaguar InControl system, then record a statement with the police and wait. The clever app helps police track down and recover stolen Jaguars with the help of the Stolen Vehicle Locator. The app can reveal when a car's stolen and the amount of fuel consumed. Additionally, once you double-lock the Jaguar XF, it becomes impossible to unlock or start the car.
2023 Jaguar XF Specs
Base Price |
$47,000 |
Engine |
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four |
Horsepower |
246-296 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
25 city / 33 highway (P250 RWD); 22 city / 30 highway (P300 AWD) |
Drive Type |
RWD; AWD (available) |
Gearbox |
8-speed automatic transmission |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
12 2023 Tesla Model S
Safety Feature: Sentry Mode
Not only is the Model S still one of the best electric cars you can buy — the 2020 model makes the list of best used Teslas to buy in 2023 — but it's also one of the most secure. The most obvious reason why someone wouldn’t want to steal a Tesla Model S is that the owner can monitor the whereabouts of the car through a smartphone.
If a thief hacks the system or disconnects the tracker, a signal gets sent to Tesla. Even if thieves do manage to steal a Model S and evade the cops without the charge running low, more than likely they won't get very far.
2023 Tesla Model S Specs
Base Price |
$88,490 |
Engine |
Dual electric motors; three electric motors |
Horsepower |
670-1,020 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPGe) |
124 city / 115 highway (standard); 102-119 city / 99-112 highway (Plaid) |
Miles |
405 miles (standard); 348–396 miles (Plaid) |
Drive Type |
AWD |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
11 2023 Land Rover Defender
Safety Feature: Keyless Ultra Wide Band Technology
With keyless entry being increasingly prevalent in cars, thieves have found a way to exploit the system. They can unlock and drive off in cars by using a signal amplifier that picks up the key's signal and uses it to unlock the car, even if the owner is not in proximity. Fortunately, the Land Rover Defender has a solution to combat this. Not only is the new Defender hard to lock pick, but it also uses Ultra Wide Band technology. This simultaneously transmits over a vast range of frequencies, rendering any relay device the thieves have unable to pick up the key's signal, which is another reason why potential buyers should consider the Land Rover Defender.
2023 Land Rover Defender Specs
Base Price |
$53,944 |
Engine |
2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine; 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder mild hybrid; 5.0-liter supercharged V8 |
Horsepower |
296-518 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
14-17 city / 19-22 highway |
Drive Type |
AWD |
Gearbox |
8-speed automatic |
Seating Capacity |
5-8 |
10 2023 BMW X3
Safety Feature: Comfort Access Keyless Tech
BMW uses a different approach to the issue of using relays to amplify the signal of the key. Making a case against its rivals, the X3 comes with a system that automatically stops the signal coming from the key if the key's been stationary for a certain amount of time, using motion sensor technology.
This would be in cases where the key is not in the owner's pocket, or at least if the owner has been in one place for a few minutes. And without the signal from the key, it's not only impossible to enter the vehicle, but it's also virtually impossible to drive off.
2023 BMW X3 Specs
Base Price |
$45,400 |
Engine |
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four; 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid system; 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six |
Horsepower |
248-473 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
15-23 city / 20-29 highway |
Drive Type |
RWD; AWD |
Gearbox |
8-speed automatic transmission |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
9 2023 Nissan Leaf
Safety Feature: Intelligent Key Fob
Before dismissing the Nissan Leaf, look at the statistics — the numbers don’t lie. First, if the key isn't within a close range, owners cannot start the engine or move the car to neutral.
Secondly, the lack of a gearbox is really important and always a hard nut to crack for thieves. Moreover, the GPS tracking system is very responsive when tracking down the whereabouts of the car. In fact, most car thieves would rather steal the parts than the whole car, since they know the risk.
2023 Nissan Leaf Specs
Base Price |
$27,800 |
Engine |
110-kW AC synchronous electric motor paired with 40-kWh lithium-ion battery pack; 160-kW AC synchronous electric motor paired with 62-kWh lithium-ion battery pack |
Horsepower |
147-214 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPGe) |
121-123 city / 98-99 highway |
Miles |
149–212 miles |
Drive Type |
FWD |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
8 2023 Tesla Model X
Safety Feature: Sentry Mode
The Model S's more expensive SUV sibling, the Model X, boasts similar levels of security. Tesla cars are exceedingly difficult to steal because of features such as GPS tracking and Sentry Mode, a security feature that protects the EVs from theft. The vehicle's cameras record its surroundings even when it's turned off, ready to notify the owner in case of any suspicious activity around the car. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, Teslas are among the least-stolen vehicles, with the Model S and Model X boasting a relative claim rate of 11 and 12 respectively (100 represents the average).
2023 Tesla Model X Specs
Base Price |
$98,490 |
Engine |
Dual electric motors (standard); Three electric motors (Plaid) |
Horsepower |
670-1,020 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPGe) |
94-107 city / 88-97 highway |
Miles |
311-348 |
Drive Type |
AWD |
Seating Capacity |
5-7 |
7 2023 Audi A4
Safety Feature: Pure Protection Program
Did you know the theft rate of the Audi A4 is very low due to the modern anti-theft devices fitted in it? One of the outstanding security features is that the keys to the Audi A4 have a chip that makes it harder to start with other equipment. The keys have a chip, and it's coded into the ECU. This innovative technology makes it very difficult for thieves to use plastic keys when starting the Audi A4. The only way you can steal this car is by towing it, which is one hell of a process and can attract a lot of attention.
2023 Audi A4 Specs
Base Price |
$39,900 |
Engine |
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four |
Horsepower |
201-61 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
24-26 city/ 30-34 highway |
Drive Type |
AWD |
Gearbox |
7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
6 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
Safety Feature: Stolen Vehicle Locator
There's a reason why the Volkswagen Tiguan has won various awards for the most secure car. Not many cars have alarm systems that can match up to the Volkswagen Tiguan. The electronic engine immobilizer has also contributed to the low car-theft rate that this car has recorded, since it disallows the engine to start with a different key. Additionally, the Volkswagen Tiguan allows the owner to access the vehicle via a smartphone app, which also features a stolen-vehicle locator that can help trace the vehicle in case of theft or robbery.
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Specs
Base Price |
$26,590 |
Engine |
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine |
Horsepower |
184 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
22-24 city / 28-31 highway |
Drive Type |
FWD; AWD (available) |
Gearbox |
8-speed automatic transmission |
Seating Capacity |
5-7 |
5 2023 Hyundai Tucson
Safety Feature: Anti-Theft Software
Although the Toyota RAV4 often gets more love than the Hyundai Tucson, the latter's anti-theft system doesn't disappoint. Most people know that the quickest way to disable a car alarm is to cut off the wires behind the horn, but the Hyundai Tucson doesn’t make it so obvious; you have a better chance of chasing the wind than disabling the alarm system of the Hyundai Tucson.
Of course, there's also a transponder immobilizer, which would make any car thief sweat in embarrassment. Even Carl Johnson from Grand Theft Auto would have a hard time getting away with a Hyundai Tucson.
2023 Hyundai Tucson Specs
Base Price |
$26,450 |
Engine |
2.5-liter four-cylinder |
Horsepower |
187 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
23-26 city / 28-33 highway |
Drive Type |
FWD; AWD (optional) |
Gearbox |
8-speed automatic transmission |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
4 2023 Tesla Model 3
Safety Feature: Sentry Mode
Among Teslas, the compact Model 3 is the least expensive, but that doesn't mean it compromises on security. Like the more premium Model S and Model X, it comes with plenty of anti-theft systems. There are sensors on each passenger door, hood, and tailgate (in case they get opened by car thieves). Plus, there's an immobilizer to verify the key someone attempts to use is the one that's synced with the powertrain. But perhaps most impressive of all is the Sentry Mode feature for "Guarding Your Tesla".
2023 Tesla Model 3 Specs
Base Price |
$40,240 |
Engine |
Single electric motor; dual electric motors |
Horsepower |
271-455 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPGe) |
271-455 hp |
Miles |
272-358 |
Drive Type |
RWD; AWD |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
3 2012 Lexus HS 250H
Safety Feature: Lexus Enform Telematics
Anyone who owns an HS 250H will tell you that it's one of the best Lexus models ever. However, the last thing owners want is to misplace the car keys. Why is that? You know how in the movies they pull up the buttons in the door frame using a wire? Apparently, it's almost impossible to do that on the Lexus HS 250H. There's a feature that enables the unlock buttons to drop as soon as they’re pulled up. Good luck to any thief trying to steal the Lexus HS 250H using that pull-up method without having to stay in the same place for hours.
2012 Lexus HS 250H Specs
Base Price |
|
Engine |
2.4-liter inline-4 with two electric motors |
Horsepower |
187 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
35 city / 34 highway |
Drive Type |
FWD |
Gearbox |
Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
2 2023 Audi A6 4WD
Safety Feature: Safelock And Tow-Away Protection
Besides the A4, another Audi model that presents such a big headache for car thieves is the A6. In fact, it's considered to be one of the most difficult cars to steal in America, according to data from the Highway Loss Data Institute. From the report, which sees the Cadillac Escalade emerge as America’s most stolen vehicle, the Audi A6 had the least reported cases of theft to emerge as the most secure car in America with only five stolen out of 1,000 Audi A6 units.
2023 Audi A6 Specs
Base Price |
$56,900 |
Engine |
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four; 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 |
Horsepower |
261-335 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPG) |
21-24 city / 30-31 highway |
Drive Type |
AWD |
Gearbox |
7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission |
Seating Capacity |
5 |
1 2023 Tesla Model Y
Safety Feature: Sentry Mode
The latest Tesla release is the brand's official crossover, the Model Y, which comes with all the same anti-theft security features in the Model S, 3, and X. The coolest (and arguably most useful) of the features is Sentry Mode. The feature relies on cameras to capture footage around the vehicle, which activates whenever someone triggers the proximity alert.
Besides Sentry Mode, the Model Y comes with an alarm system and immobilizer (which is pretty common on most vehicles). Thanks to Tesla's over-the-air system updates, there's always the potential Tesla could release more anti-theft features in the future.
2023 Tesla Model Y Specs
Base Price |
$47,490 |
Engine |
Dual electric motors |
Horsepower |
Up to 420 hp |
Fuel Economy (MPGe) |
115-129 city / 206-117 highway |
Miles |
279-330 |
Drive Type |
AWD |
Seating Capacity |
7 |