If you have children or have been in an automobile accident that left you severely injured, you will want to find a safe car to drive. But what car is the safest? There are a lot of opinions, but some cars have been rated as very safe by a number of trustworthy entities. It’s almost impossible to say that one is the safest, of course, especially when so many manufacturers have worked to ensure that your car offers as much protection as possible. The “safest” car for you is the one that meets all of your automobile needs while still ranking very highly in every area of safety. With that in mind, here are some of the cars that have been named to various “safest cars of 2013” lists.
Small Cars and Minicars:
These smaller car and minicars are perfect for both individuals and families looking for something safe. They also are often very good on gas mileage.
- The Toyota Prius. In addition to being one of the greenest vehicles on the market today, the Prius is one of the safest. It has been given top marks by a number of safety commissions, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If you want to feel safe and know you’re helping the environment, the Prius is certainly a good option.
- The Toyota Scion FR-S, tC, xB, and xD. Toyota has also put a lot of work into their Scion line of automobiles. The FR-S and tC are small two-door cars, while the xB and xD are four-door hatchbacks. Because they have four different models ranked highly in safety, the Scion is a great safe car option for both individuals and those while children.
- The Honda Fit. Another hatchback that has received across the board outstanding rating in safety.
Midsize Cars:
If you need a bit more room or want a little more power in your vehicle, you might consider one of these midsize cars.
- Honda Accord (both two-door and four-door models). The Accord has been on the list of safest cards for years. The two-door version has a sporty look, while the four-door model provides more room for families on the go.
- Chrysler 200 (four-door). Another family-sized car, Chrysler’s 200 sedan has been around for a couple of years. It’s a smaller version of their popular 300 sedan, but that doesn’t mean they’ve left out anything.
- Dodge Avenger. The 2012 model showed a great increase in both sales and safety rating, and the current 2013 model has actually received better safety scores. Dodge’s front-wheel drive midsize car is certainly a good option.
Midsize Luxury Cars:
These cars combine the size of the midsize sedan but add the luxury and prestige of the brand name. They’re not the cheapest cars around, but they are full of extras and have been rated as very safe.
- Acura TL. The Acura TL model has across the board excellent ratings in safety. Another option, although with slightly safer ratings, is the Acura TSX.
- The Audi A4. Want to really put the luxury in your luxury sedan but don’t want to sacrifice safety? Check out Audi’s A4. However, it’s important to note that the car does have one area of concern: it performed poorly in the small overlap front test administered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- The Volvo S60. Another outstanding luxury car, Volvo has based their entire marking campaign around how safe the S60 is. It’s not just bragging, either—the car has performed incredibly well in a variety of safety tests performed by multiple companies.
Large Family Cars:
If you need a lot of space for the entire family plus luggage and other items, you need a large family car. Of course, because it’s for your family, you also need it to be incredibly safe. Here are a few cars that offer a lot of protection in the event of a crash.
- Ford Taurus. While some of the cars on this list have just broken into the “safest cars” category, others have been consistently ranked for years. The Ford Taurus is one of these. Earning excellent ratings as early as 1992, it meets or exceeds many safety guidelines.
- Hyundai Azera. Hyundai car has recently upgraded some of the safety standards regarding the Azera. The 2011 model ranked only acceptable in side impact testing, but the 2012 and 2013 models have brought that rating up to excellent.
- Buick Regal. Buick is another company that has worked diligently to improve their safety records year after year. Their newest Regal models have moved from acceptable ratings to outstanding, making them one of the safest large family cars on the market.
These are just a few of the cars that have consistently been ranked as being very safe by number of different organizations and commissions. If you’re looking for a safe car, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
