Iihs Safest Suv
Iihs Safest Suv
Which cars are safest in side-impact collisions?
I have two little kids and lately I’ve been having nightmares about getting hit on the side of our car. So I want to buy a new car with top-notch side impact protection. Which cars are the safest for side impact? I have seen the IIHS ratings. I also notice that gov’t officials all travel in Tahoe or something similar. Is a big American SUV what I should buy? Thanks.
No, don’t get a big SUV, because they’re not as safe in front-end crashes, because the very stiff frame on which they ride doesn’t crumple in the same way that a unibody frame on a crossover or minivan does. You want a vehicle with a car-based chassis that will do well in both front and side collisions and that will have the maneuverability to keep you out of an accident. It can be much, much more difficult to control a large SUV in an emergency situation; at the very least get a crossover.
The IIHS ratings can be compared across vehicle types for side crashes, so they’re the best place to start. I would say that since you also want to think about front crashes, you might consider at least a midsize car that among their top safety picks. You could also look at some of the minivans – Honda Odyssey or the new Toyota Sienna – which are extremely safe in a variety of crashes.
If side impacts are your main concern, I would go for a minivan or crossover, because they ride higher. In my opinion, a Subaru Tribeca gives you an excellent balance of a car that’s safe and that has excellent reliability. Its safety cage did well in the side impact IIHS test, so you can have confidence that it would do well in a more severe crash, and it’s high enough off the ground that it’s going to have good crash compatibility. The Volvo XC60 and XC90 are safe, but you can’t be sure about Volvo reliability, unfortunately. If the Tribeca is bigger than you’re looking for, then consider the Subaru Forester (available with PZEV emissions in case you care about the environment). If you want a Tribeca, buy a 2008 or later, since the engine was improved to take regular fuel, so you’ll save some money. If you want a Forester, buy one from this generation or the last to take full advantage of modern safety engineering.