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!
