Safest SUV
There are some things that you need to know before deciding what is the safest SUV. Whether you decide to buy a mid-sized SUV or a small SUV, always check the safety features first. It is always advisable to read SUV reviews to make a wiser choice.
No doubt, we love SUVs, in spite of it being called a gas guzzling vehicle. After the boom period in the nineties, it has turned into the most loved vehicle segment in USA with about 22% of sales. Its heavier built and size are what attract us the most, and make us feel safe. But when we question about the safest SUV, many would like to argue that what matters is who is behind the wheel. So, the safety of any vehicle depends on the way it is driven. So, the deciding factor on whether you will suffer a serious injury depends on your own driving. Many of us love SUVs and when we spot a beauty, we know we have found the perfect vehicle. It has the looks, the right price, plus the perfect size. But safety is the most important consideration for any vehicle buyer. Some of us do a bit of homework before buying, and like to buy one of the best rated SUVs, while some of us are brand loyalists. If you have always loved BMWs, then there is no way someone can make you switch over to an Audi.
Safest Small SUV
High fatality rate in some of the large SUVs has removed the misconception that bigger and heavier vehicles are safer. Revelation of this data has created a huge demand of smaller SUVs among SUV lovers who do not want to settle for a sedan. Honda Element is one of the best small SUVs, and is also considered one of the safest. So, in continuous effort to make the safest SUV, new vehicles are designed keeping in mind the center of gravity with lowered bodies and wider tracks. Before deciding what is the safest SUV, be it small or big, two things needs to be considered first. First is crashworthiness and second is the prevention factor. Some other things that are of utmost importance while searching for the perfect and safest SUV are:
- Safety for you and other passengers.
- Safety of other road users.
- Rollover prevention system.
- Presence of safety features like ESC and curtain airbags.
Whether it is a SUV or any other vehicle, safety is the most important criteria while considering the best SUV for the money. When you finally zero in, on one SUV, always consider if it is one of the safest SUV. Safety of any vehicle including SUVs are rated from 1 to 5 as given below:
- 5 - Excellent Safety - Highly Recommended
- 4 - Good Safety - Recommended
- 3 - Acceptable, but look for better choices - Not Recommended
- 2 - Marginal Safety - Unacceptable
- 1- Poor Safety - Unacceptable
There were days, initially, when SUVs were thought to be unsafe because of its height and higher center of gravity, making them prone to easy rollover. Every automobile company would boast of newer technologies and innovative features to prove the safety standard of any vehicle. But it is always wiser to go by the safety ratings of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS) based on their crash tests, reports and comparisons. From a hoard of SUVs available today, IIHS have taken out the list of safest cars taking into consideration safety features like safety of driver and other passengers during collision. Many previously high rated SUVs and some considered the best SUVs have lost out in the race, due to the introduction of new evaluation feature of rollover crash testing. The list is dominated by automakers of five different countries: South Korea, United States, Japan, Germany and Sweden. These are the safest SUVs of 2010 as per IIHS list which includes some of the most fuel efficient SUVs :
- Dodge Journey
- Subaru Tribeca
- Volvo XC60
- Volvo XC90
- Honda Element
- Subaru Forester
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Jeep Patriot
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