Every year the federal government and independent groups like the Insurance Institute for Highway safety test hundreds of vehicles to determine which ones are the safest for us and our families and friends. Among those hundreds of vehicles, only a few rate at the highest safety levels across the board.
When vehicles are safety-tested, they’re looked at from top to bottom, from the inside out. There are alot of factors to consider, from the obvious-rollover, airbags, braking systems-to the not-so-obvious, like the amount of steel in a vehicle’s frame or seat comfort.
According to MSN.com, there are two major categories of safety performance: prevention, that is, how well a car reacts to handling and thereby helps prevent a crash; and “crashworthiness,” which is how well a car protects you when you are involved in an accident.
With those two categories in mind, here are some of the safest cars for 2010, according to the experts:
For large cars, there was no contest, according to IIHS. The 2010 and 2011 Buick LaCrosse owns this category. Following a recent redesign, in IIHS crast tests the Lacrosse rated well on all sides and the rear, including their new-for-this-year roof structural test. It also comes with standard stablization control, which increases its prevention rating as well. Base MSRP for the 2010 Lacrosse is around $26,495, which is competitive for its class.
The Mid-size car category sees more competition among the ranks, as the Audi A3 just barely edged out the revamped Chevrolet Malibu (built after 2009), as well as fending off strong contenders in the Subaru Legacy and Volkswagon Jetta, according to InAutoNews.com. The Audi A3 has a high sticker price for its class, at a base MSRP that’s around $27,270–compared to close-competitor Chevy Malibu’s $21,825–which will scare off some prospective buyers.
Small car safety was exemplified in the IIHS’s tests by the Honda Civic, which has earned high marks from the IIHS every year since the 2006 model was introduced. That’s a better record than most of the other cars tested, regardless of size. The 4-door version of the Civic perfomed well on all sides, the rear, and in roof structure tests across the board, thanks to standard stability control and other features. And with a base MSRP around $15,455, it holds the distinction of being one of the most affordable cars of its class as well.
Many other cars ranked well in both government and independent tests like the ones conducted by IIHS. MSN.com maintains that it’s because the quality of cars in general has gone up the last couple of decades, so across the board they’re safer than ever before. Just remember that ultimately, the person driving is the biggest factor in how safe a car actually is. No safety feature in the world can compensate for consistently poor driving.
Sources
InAutoNews.com, “Safest Cars 2010 List.”
Edmunds.com, “2010 Safest Cars: IIHS Top Safety Picks.”
MSN.com, “25 safest cars on the road.”
IIHS.org, “Top Safety Picks 2010.”
