I am shopping for the safest vehicle I can afford on a very tight budget, what is more important?

I am a young, inexperienced driver and I am shopping for a vehicle on a college student's budget. I have read several articles about safe vehicles and the findings seem to indicate that I would be more likely to survive a car accident in a midsized sedan but all the articles I have read state to buy a vehicle in your price range with the most safety features. Now here are the problems: I simply cannot afford a vehicle from a dealership. Even with financing. All the midsized vehicles I have found for private sale in my price range either have the bare minimum safety features or, if they do have extra safety features like side airbags, they have a lot of kilometers on them. I am currently looking at a Honda Fit because of the front and side airbags but the smaller size but I am also weary of the small size and lack of traction control and electronic stability control. Even the Honda website states that it was made for city driving which is not reuring for someone that needs to drive over 300 kilometers home for Christmas break. Any advice?