Nowadays, there are thousands of car models in the market, which is why knowing which are the safest can be quite a challenge.
The safest car models aren’t necessarily the best looking, and to find the one that caters to your every need, research is crucial. If you are planning on buying a car with the highest safety standards in the market, consider the following recommendations.
When shopping for a new car it’s essential to check the safety levels on the models that have interested you the most. Nowadays, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are considered the most reliable entities when it comes to safety performance testing in the U.S.
Browse your favorite vehicle models on the NHTSA and IIHS respective websites and make an informed decision. These organizations even upload car test videos that clearly illustrate what would happen should a car accident occur inside such vehicles.
For a car to be considered among the safest for the driver as well as the passengers, it needs to have certain specific features. These can be divided into two categories:
According to most crash tests, heavy cars tend to suffer less damages in car crashes, as opposed to smaller and lighter cars. Newer vehicles usually have better structural design to ensure passenger safety. Some of the latest structural advances are:
You probably already know most of the standard safety features inside car models. However, the quality of such features can vary, which is why you need to know what you want and what to look for on your next vehicle. Consider the following 3 essential safety features every car should have:
Note: Airbags can seriously injure a child, which is why if a child were to sit in the front, make sure you place the sear facing the rear of the car. However, it’s best to seat children in the back of the car.
These features improve the driving experience and reduce collision risks:
Fortunately, there are several safe car models in the U.S. market. To help you shorten the list of possibilities, consider our following 10 recommendations for the safest car models in the country, rated by the NHTSA or the IIHS (generally, by both):
Midsize cars are now safer due to the 2018 Toyota Camry. Awarded five stars by the NHTSA, this vehicle includes more safety features than most cars of the same category, such as a rearview camera and adaptive cruise control.
Awarded a five-star rating by the NHTSA, this electric car is much more than an eco-friendly vehicle. Its comfort is only surpassed by its safety features: traction control, airbags in every seat and anti-lock brake system in all 4 wheels.
Besides having the classic safety features, such as airbags, a rollover sensor, anti-lock brakes, seatbelt pre-tensioners and stability control, this car is also equipped with an anti-theft security feature: an ignition disabler in case something other than the original key is used to start it.
This Honda is one of the safest car models in the U.S., with an overall five-star rating. Additionally, the IIHS awarded it a Superior grade for its front crash prevention system.
Note: Another popular model, the Honda Sensing Suite, comes with additional safety features like forward collision warning and lane departure warning, definitely worth considering.
Winner of the U.S. News’ Best Midsize Car for Families, the 2018 Toyota Camry has also rated a top safety option by the IIHS. Among its safety features are a pre-collision system, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high beams.
This Subaru is the definitive evolution of previous Subaru car models; with a sleek design as well as a sound structure. Awarded an all-over five-star rating, it should come as a surprise that it has anti-lock brakes, an anti-theft ignition disabler, airbags and special knee protection feature for the driver.
In the event of a car accident, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 4DR FWD deserves 5 stars, according to the NHTSA. Nonetheless, this vehicle scores 4 out of 5 stars in terms of rollover resistance (that is, the risk measures to avoid a car rollover). The safety features are the standard: stability control, airbags and an ignition disabler, among others.
The NHTSA also gave this model an interesting rating: 5 stars in frontal crash and 5 stars in side crash, yet only awards 4 stars when it comes to rollover resistance. On the other hand, the IIHS awarded this SUV 5 stars in every assessment area. Some of its safety features are forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.
Considered one of the safest car models in the market, this Hyundai model has been awarded 5 stars in most of the areas assessed by the NHTSA, except rollover resistance (4 stars). Although it received a good score, bear in mind that most of the safety features are not actually included with the car but can be added for an additional fee.
This Honda car model received great scores by both the NHTSA and the IIHS. Furthermore, it includes a few standard safety features such as traffic sign recognition and rearview cameras. You can also get a blind spot monitoring system for an additional fee.
It is a popular misconception that cheaper cars are less safe, a myth that was debunked by the IIHS in a test conducted to evaluate the safety levels of moderately priced vehicles against luxury car models. This institute assessed the performance of 15 more affordable cars, 2 of which were rated as Good and 11 as Acceptable. As far as the midsize luxury car models are concerned, just 3 models were rated Good or Acceptable out of 11.
One of the main things you should factor into your decision when assessing car models is safety features. However, once you select and purchase your new vehicle, it is crucial to look after it. Car maintenance needs to be part of your routine, because cars break down and safety features can stop working at any time, without notice.
Furthermore, everything should be in the correct position, like the driver’s seat and the side mirrors, before starting the car.
Having read this quick guide on car models, you can start looking for the perfect and safest car for you. Remember to take into account safety features and look up the IIHS and NHTSA scores online to make sure you’re investing in your own peace of mind when on the road. Finally, take care of your new car to guarantee that it continues to work at its best.
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