It depends on your point of view: an SUV is a safer vehicle to be in as a passenger in an accident, but it is a less safe vehicle for the person who gets hit by one. Again Age is a big factor. A new small car is probably going to be safer than an old SUV. 

The moment it exits the dealer, a car's resale value can go down by 30% or more. Cars depreciate very fast. Considering this, it's hard to define them as 'investments' in the traditional sense. But this is not always the case for all luxury vehicles. When a car model reaches collectible status, its value can hold for a long time.

Apart from all the basic features which any car contains, there are more interesting ones available in most affordable cars. You can expect features like Bluetooth, infotainment systems, the presence of Wi-Fi and data connection, automatic braking systems (ABS), and cruise control even in affordable cars. When you buy a new car with all of these fe