Safest Cars?

Question

Aside from Volvo, what are the top make and model of cars known for being safe, that are sold in the US?

Answer 1

Actually, though Volvo has a reputation for manufacturing safe cars, their current models often do no better than other safe cars in its class. One major problem Volvo has is that their models have a slow refresh cycle. The new S80 should be great, but surprisingly, the S60 and S40 don't fare well. I don't know about the others.
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Things to look for:

Side curtain airbags can reduce the chance of death and skull fracture by 40% in some cases, during a side impact.

Crash test ratings: The insurance institute for highway safety and EuroNCAP have stricter requirements than the NHTSA, so check them first.

Weight: If you have a car which weighs 2x as much as another, it absorbs only 1/8 the force! Try to buy a car that is as heavy as possible, yet still has good fuel economy. Buy a car that weighs at least 3000 pounds.

ESC: Electronic Stability Control, with many monikers depending on manufacturer, uses a complex array of sensors to determine if your car may slip out of control, and applies braking force to the appropriate wheel(s) before it happens. It supposedly provides 25 to 35% more control in certain situations, and the US government has found cars with ESC run into 22% fewer accidents.

Death statistics: Some European governments keep track of how often people die with different cars, corrected for the car population, mileage, # of people in the car, etc. It gives you real-life information, something that crash tests can't do. But then it also factors in driving habits and where people drive (ie in wealthier neighborhoods people are likely more courteous). Unfortunately, it takes a few years for the data to be compiled (after a model comes out, they have to wait and see).

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In general, buy cars in this order, from safest to most dangerous:

Large car, minivan, midsize car, SUV, small car.

If you want a large car:
Mercedes S Class
Jaguar XJ

both of these cars have the lowest death rates on the road.

If you want a midsize car:
Audi A6
Mercedes E Class
Acura RL

the Audi and Acura have excellent crash test ratings, the E Class not so much. But the E Class one of the lowest death rates, though it can also be attributed to less aggressive driving behavior of Mercedes owners.

Minivan

Nissan Quest
Honda Odyssey

SUV

Infiniti FX35
Acura MDX
Porsche Cayenne

The Cayenne handles exceptionally well, and the FX35 has a great rollover rating. The MDX has some of both. The new BMW X5 should be good, but crash test ratings are yet to be released.

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Notice:

I didn't mention small cars, because, due to their weight, they tend to be significantly more dangerous, with an order of magnitude of 2 to 6.

SUVs aren't a particularly safe class of vehicle, but since you may want to buy one anyway, I included it.

Luxury car models tend to have active safety features standard and are also at least several hundred pounds heavier than their mass produced counterparts. They cost more, but they are also priced accordingly!

Answer 2

For a individual in a vehicle, greater cutting-edge autos are safer than older autos. For a individual in a vehicle, that's safer to be in a greater cutting-edge vehicle than to be in an older vehicle. The greater proper outdoors grow to be safer purely for the vehicle itself, and not for the people interior the vehicle. The flimsy physique makes the greater cutting-edge vehicle safer for the people interior the vehicle. here is why: whilst a vehicle with a solid, inflexible physique is in an accident, all the rigidity and skill is going right now into hurting the people interior the vehicle. whilst a greater cutting-edge vehicle is in an accident, assorted the skill is absorbed via the crumpling of the physique, so little or no of it hurts the people. do no longer have confidence me? evaluate this test: Wrap a brick in bubble wrap. Hit your self with it. Wrap yet another brick in concrete. Hit your self with that too. (do no longer fairly try this; you will get harm.) Which do you think of could harm greater? Bubble wrap is a "flimsy physique" and urban is a "greater proper outdoors". The bubble wrap, representing the greater cutting-edge vehicle, could have greater injury to itself, whether this is going to do much less injury to the guy. Why do you think of eggs are offered in cardboard or foam and not in inflexible metallic boxes? because of the fact some thing flimsy protects what's interior of it, and a few thing greater proper we could each and everything interior of it destroy.

Answer 3

Just about every Toyota, Honda, and Lexus has scored well in Consumer Reports' safety crash test results. They are also the most reliable cars on the market.

Answer 4

Mercury Sable & Ford Taurus-both best in class in safety. Most Ford Motor Company vehicle fare very well in safety.

Answer 5

Ford Taurus
Volkswagen Jetta
Lexus ES350
Kia Amanti
Also, Saabs and Buicks are very safe.

Answer 6

Mercedes.

Answer 7

Cadillac and other large full sized cars.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

hi volvo is knowing for its safety feature
IN INDIA the sx90 is latest. its feature is too good

Answer 9

How about a Edsel, never heard of anyone ever killed in one of those

Answer 10

ford fusion, vw jetta