In the event of an accident, due to the velocity and mass of the vehicles, a high amount of energy is released and this energy must be properly absorbed. The energy that cannot be properly absorbed causes the formation of forces that will damage the interior parts, the driver and the passengers, causing life-threatening problems. In order to absorb some of this energy, specially designed parts called crash boxes are needed to meet the criteria suggested by states, institutions and insurance companies. Along with the concepts such as sustainability, environment and fuel-saving, lightness in vehicles and increasing competition have led to important studies on crash boxes, which is a passive safety component. For these reasons, appropriate choices should be made considering the kinetic energy absorption performance, manufacturability, cost and weight of the crash boxes. This study includes a comprehensive literature review that addresses the key factors that increase the performance of crash boxes. In the study, the energy absorption ability of crash boxes is discussed under three main titles, namely, geometry, material and filler material. In this context, the studies in the literature were reviewed and the important points on energy absorption using crash boxes were compiled.