The Safest Car Models According to IIHS

When asked about what the safest car models are, a lot of people would probably choose SUVs over other cars.



But the fact is, SUVs are actually more susceptible to rollover crashes compared to other car models.



Although most of the other features are safe, they have not solved the problem of rollover risk which is a result of its higher center of gravity.



Nowadays, because of the advancement of safety technologies, size is no longer the only standard for car safety.



Some of the most impressive new car safety equipments are the following:



• Side airbags - These protect the driver's head from hitting the hood of the car and from being struck by the intruding vehicle.

• Front airbags - Traditional airbags are designed for high speed crashes but was too powerful for low-speed crashes that it becomes a danger to the driver itself. The improved version now has a dual-level of inflation that ensures the safety of the driver and the passenger's head in high and low speeds.

• Crumple zones - These are built to absorb as much of the energy as it can and provide some cushioning.

• Three point seatbelts - This not only stops the lower half of the body, but also the upper half from being ejected from the seat or worse, from the car.



To determine the safety of a car or its crashworthiness (ability to protect passengers during a crash), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS rates a car based on its performance in high speed front and side collisions.



IIHS will also evaluate the effectiveness of seat/head restraints against potential neck and head injuries.

For 2009, here are some of the top picks of IIHS for safest car models:



Cars



• Acura RL/TL/TSX

• Audi A6 /A3/A4

• Buick Lacrosse

• BMW 3 Series

• Chrysler Sebring

• Lincoln MKZ / MKS

• Ford Focus

• Honda Civic (2 door)/Insight/Accord (4 door)/Genesis/Fit

• Ford Focus

• Mercury Sable

• Mercedes Milan/C Class

• Subaru Legacy/Outback

• Toyota Avalon/Prius/Corolla

• Volvo S80/C30

• Volkswagen CC/Jetta/Passat



SUVs



• Audi Q7/Q5

• Acura MDX/RDX

• Buick Enclave

• BMW X3/x5

• Cadillac SRX

• Chevrolet Traverse/Equinox

• Dodge Journey

• Ford Edge/Flex/Taurus X/Escape

• GMC Acadia/Terrain

• Honda Pilot/Santa Fe/Veracruz/CR-V/Element

• Infiniti EX35

• Lexus RX

• Lincoln MKT/MKX

• Mazda Tribute

• Mercury Mariner

• Mitsubishi Outlander

• Mercedes R Class/M Class

• Nissan Murano/Rogue

• Saturn Outlook/VUE

• Subaru Forester

• Toyota FJ Cruiser/Highlander/Venza/RAV 4

• Volvo XC90

• Volkswagen Tiguan



The list above is not the complete list and the models are either produced after November 2008 or are 2009-2010 models.



It is important to remember though that a car is only as safe as the person driving it. Nothing can substitute steady and careful driving in preventing car accidents.



If you need assistance in a car accident, you should seek help from an expert car accident attorney for advice.



Visit our website for more reliable information about safest car models. Dial our toll free number for legal assistance.