The Safest Cars on the
Road Keep Your Family Safe
When you go car shopping you are probably dazzled by the sports cars or
even the big burly SUVs as well as the shiny colors and whether or not the
vehicle is fully loaded. Frequently, you will hear people talking about what
car they want to buy and will hear them mention things like leather seats, a
great sound system, DVD players and mini TV screens, great rims and other
similar features. However, unfortunately, you do not frequently hear people
talking about the safety rating of the vehicle and how well it performed in
crash tests or if it has recently been recalled. For some reason Americans
are more consumed with how comfortable and cool their car is and makes them
rather than how safe it can keep them. However, even if consumers are not
overly interested in safe cars insurance companies are.
Insurance companies focus on keeping people safe, reducing accidents, and
ultimately the amount of money they have to pay out for coverage. So, safe
cars are the pick of the litter so to speak for insurance companies. They
are so favored, in fact, that insurance companies frequently offer discounts
to individuals who buy safe cars resulting in hundreds of dollars in savings
each year on premiums. Safe does not mean the car is unattractive or without
all the extras you want, so get it out of your head that safe does not equal
cool.
And while the trend may not change and people will continue to look for
cool cars, they should keep in mind that there are indeed cool cars that are
also safe cars. Each year a rating list of the top 25 safest cars is
produced and if you are in the car buying market you should definitely take
a peak and see if the car you are interested in buying is on that list. If
not, check out the other safe cars that did make the list and see if you can
find something that is equally cool and considerably safer. The following
cars made it on the safe car list and also have some amazing features that
will please even the pickiest car connoisseur.
Upscale Cars
If you are interested in and can afford an upscale car and are also
concerned about safety, then you should consider the Audi A4 or perhaps the
BMW 330i. The Lexus ES300 also ranked high in the crash tests and overall
safety in the upscale sedan category.
Small Cars
Small cars that rank high on the top 25 safety car list include the
Volkswagen golf and Honda Civic which received the top honors. Another safe
car in this category includes the Volkswagen Jetta.
Midsize Cars
Volkswagen also took the top prize in the midsize category with the
Volkswagen Passat GLX 6.0. The Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy also ranked
high in the mid size family sedan category.
Pickups
Everyone thinks pickup trucks are safe, however some are safer than
others and generally pick up trucks are not as safe as cars. In the top 25
safest cars the Toyota Tundra SR5 4.7, Ford F150 XLT 5.4, and the Dodge Ram
SLT 4.7 ranked higher and safer than the rest.
Minivans and SUVs
The minivan and SUV category have an interesting array of really safe
vehicles and then some that are hazards to drivers and passengers. Minivans
that responded well in the tests include the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey
EX, and the Mazda MPV. The safest SUVs include the Lexus RX300, Toyota
Highlander, and the Saturn VUE as well as others.
Of course, you could choose to buy a safe vehicle and still be injured in
an accident. This is because there is no perfect car that is constructed in
a way that it can protect you 100%. However, there are plenty of cars that
are significantly safer than others and as a result consumers should pay
attention to these cars. Fortunately, some of the safer models are actually
very stylish and come with the latest gadgets and features so many people
are looking for in a new car. So, no matter if you want the coolest car on
the market you can still find one that is rated high in the safety category.
Honda, Lexus, BMW, Saturn, Volkswagen, and others all ranked high in their
respective categories and are all very popular car models. Also, cars today
are significantly safer than they were even 15 years ago and tires are safer
as well.
If you buy a used vehicle that is 10-15 years old you can rest assured it
will not have the same safety qualities as new cars made today. The reason
for this is safety standards were different as well as the technology used
to build the cars. As a result, older cars simply are not as safe. The best
option for your safety and that of your family and other passengers is to
buy a car that is ranked high on the safety list and rest assured that if
you are in an accident your car will protect you as much as possible because
it was designed with safety in mind. By making safety one of the qualities
you look for in a vehicle, even above price or design, you are choosing to
protect yourself and your family, which is the best decision you can
possibly make. Remember to take a look at the top 25 list before you start
car shopping. Not only are the top 25 cars in all categories listed, but
some of the worst cars are listed as well so you will know what to avoid.
Happy car shopping!
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