The Safest Vehicles in 2017
As consumers, we rely on a number of experts for insight and guidance on a daily basis. With the New Year upon us and the 2017 car models flooding dealerships, when shopping for a car, it is important to know what feature you may be overlooking. Experts at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a statement saying they have “stiffened” their criteria on safety honors.
However, for many consumers they may be surprised by what car safety feature is being spotlighted. According to the IIHS, headlights are a big safety concern; therefore stricter guidelines are being mandated in order for manufacturers to receive accolades when it comes to top safety picks.
The president of the IIHS stated, “Automakers have not focused enough attention on whether or not headlamps are aimed such that they light up the road for the driver ahead of them."
It seems that even luxury vehicles, that consumers are paying more for are missing the mark. And let’s be honest, if you are going to pay top dollar for a luxury brand then the quality of their headlights should be an easy and safe feature to provide. However, safety experts say that the fancy headlights that shift with the curvature of the road don’t always work better than the old-fashioned lights. Unfortunately, it seems that headlights are inadequately providing nighttime visibility for drivers.
So what car should you consider that not only offers proper lighting, but also includes all of the other vehicle safety features?
The IIHS says that 2017 will be a good year for Toyota with its Corolla, Prius and Camry all receiving high safety marks. On the luxury side of things, the big winners are the Lexus NX and the Lexus RX sport utility vehicles.
Below you will find the list of honorees, but take note that pick-up trucks have missed the “safety mark” time and time again; something the IIHS is hoping manufacturers will pay attention to and change.
Small cars: Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Elantra (sedan only, built after March 2016), Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius (built after August 2016)
Mid-size cars: Honda Accord 4-door, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius v, Volkswagen Jetta
Mid-size luxury cars: Audi A4, Lexus ES 350, Volvo S60, Volvo V60
Large luxury cars: Genesis G80, Genesis G90, Lexus RC
Small SUVs: Mazda CX-3, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester (built after October 2016), Toyota RAV4
Mid-size SUVs: Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe (built after March 2016)
Mid-size luxury SUVs: Acura MDX, Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Buick Envision, Lexus NX, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Volvo XC60
Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica (built after August 2016)
Large pickup: Honda Ridgeline
Purchasing a vehicle is a major decision and safety should be at the forefront of every consumer’s mind before making a choice. Let 2017 be an even brighter year by ensuring that you and your family will be riding in the safest vehicle possible!