Home
Blog & Newsletter
About us
Cars
Finance
Trucks
Jeeps
Motorcycles
ATV'S
RV's
Graphics
Performance
Car care
Car audio
Car security
Safety & Driving
Maintenance
Fuel Economy
Car Buying Tips
Magazines
Resources
ECommerce

XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Google
 

Look for the best car safety rating !!

Performance, style, size, fuel consumption ... Hum ! What about car safety rating ? Should'nt this be your top criteria in choosing your next vehicle ??

Too often we "fall in love" for a vehicle, its style and looks ... its image, Then we look for its ability to meet our needs. One of the most important need should be our safety, particularly in an accident involving a crash. The quality of vehicle's "defense" against collision impacts may save your life. No kidding !! A good car safety rating is important ! Let me re-phrase this : it is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL !!

So, one of the first step in evaluating your next buy should be to check the car safety rating. Government agencies in North America and Europe perform, every year, crash tests on a vast selection of makes and models and develop a car safety rating based on a set of standards and criterias.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in USA performs two types of crash tests for safety rating purposes: a full-frontal crash into a rigid barrier at 35 mph, with separate ratings for the driver and front passenger and a side-impact crash that simulates a vehicle traveling at 17 mph being hit in the side by a 3,000-pound car travelling at 34 mph. A five-star car safety rating (highest score) indicates the best protection of occupants from serious injury.

The following are some of the 2002 makes and models tested by the NHTSA which scored with a high car safety rating :

2002 Acura 3.2 TL 4-DR. w/SAB
2002 Chevrolet Impala 4-DR
2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-DR.
2002 Ford Windstar
2002 Honda Accord 4-DR.
2002 Honda Odyssey w/SAB
2002 Hyundai Sonata 4-DR
2002 Infiniti I35 4-DR. w/SAB
2002 Kia Sedona Van
2002 Lincoln LS 4-DR. w/SAB
2002 Mercury Grand Marquis 4-DR.
2002 Nissan Maxima 4-DR.
2002 Subaru Legacy 4-DR. Wagon
2002 Toyota Sienna
2002 Volkswagen Jetta 4-DR. w/SAB

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in USA takes a different approach called the offset-frontal test. In the IIHS tests, only 40 percent of the vehicle's driver's side front hits the barrier, which is deformable, rather than rigid, so that it crumples as another car might. Tests are conducted at 40 mph, rather than 35 mph, because IIHS researchers determined that the higher speed allows the offset crash to cover real-world crashes, including those where a collapsing vehicle structure contributes to injury.

The following are some of the 2002 vehicles with a good car safety rating based on the IIHS offset-frontal tests :

2002 BMW 5 SERIES
2002 LINCOLN LS
2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE
2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE
2002 VOLVO S80
2002 LEXUS ES 300
2002 AUDI A4
2002 TOYOTA AVALON
2002 SUZUKI AERIO
2002 HONDA CIVIC
2002 SUBARU IMPREZA
2002 ACURA MDX
2002 HONDA CR-V
2002 TOYOTA SIENNA

In Europe, the Euro NCAP also supports the offset-crash testing for the same reasons. Of all the 2002 makes and models tested the following came on top of the car safety rating charts provided by the NCAP experts :

2002 Audi A2
BMW Mini
Vauxhall/Opel Corsa
Volkswagen Polo
Ford Mondeo
Jaguar X-Type
Vauxhall/Opel Vectra
Peugeot 607
Honda S2000
Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-Benz SLK
Range Rover
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Honda CR-V

The information on car safety is improving and is more and more credible. A good car safety rating is a crucial part in the evaluation of your next buy, be it used or new. Do yourself a favour, select your next vehicle with the safety of your family in mind.

A high car safety rating means a lower risk of car accident injury !!


Need more information on car safety rating ? Click here.


If you would like to receive quality articles like this one, in YOUR mailbox every month, please click here.




Seat Belts : Your Freedom or Your Life?


Magellan Roadmate : What a Great Tool !


How to avoid a traffic ticket fine


How to Beat a Speeding ticket - Part 1


How to Beat a Speeding ticket - Part 2


How to Beat a Speeding ticket - Part 3


How to Beat a Speeding ticket - Part 4


Subscribe to our Free
Newsletter!


Enter Your E-mail Address


Enter Your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you AutoMotives.


footer for car safety rating page