The Safest Cars on the Road Keep Your Family Safe

By: Steven Anderson

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!

About the author:
Steven Anderson is the Marketing Director for Hawaiian Discount
Car Rentals. He has personally researched and experienced many
of the Hawaiian activities and as described above, and is a
specialist in Maui,
Hawaii car rentals.