US Automakers Left Off the List

Let’s face it; talking about a high power sports car is one thing, driving them is another.  For most of us that need to purchase a sedan, SUV or minivan for the family or a truck for the jobsite these are the vehicles we will drive more than any others.  Because of this we know what we want to have on these vehicles; a great price, good fuel mileage and safety.  As these are the representative features we desire it’s amazing to see the advancement  that have taken place in the world of safety of vehicles to make them not only handle an impact much easier but be able to take on the chore of avoiding a collision as well.

The worry when it comes to safety is not just what the car can absorb but what can be avoided.  Because of the inclusion of crash prevention technology that must be present on vehicle now to qualify for higher ratings from the IIHS many of the cars we are familiar with as domestic offerings did not make the list.  In fact, there was only one car on the list of forty-eight that came from an American manufacturer and that was the Chrysler 200.

As for the rest of the market Toyota was able to dominate by taking nine of the spots which includes the Camry while Honda took home eight and Subaru had six winners.  The reason for this success is the response the Japanese automakers have had to ensuring their cars are safer and able to conform to the highest safety ratings available with items such as automatic braking and crash prevention systems.  Because these top rated vehicles were able to adjust to the new system of safety ratings they had the ability to earn the higher marks than others that did not make the changes as quickly.

The changes to the testing came as no surprise as the IIHS started this stricter testing in 2014 and now has created the overall test that makes the need for automatic braking and other advanced systems a necessity.  The expectation is that more automakers are going to add the automatic braking systems as standard offerings based upon the agreement that was made by ten different manufacturers.

What is extremely surprising in a good way is how quickly this technology has been passed down the line from the luxury models to ones that are more mainstream.  This makes a huge difference in the market when drivers who have cars that are priced below $25,000 are able to enjoy the benefit of the forward collision warning systems with automatic braking technologies.  The IIHS recommends you look for vehicles with at least a good rating and four of five starts from the NHTSA to pick vehicles that will be safer for you to drive.  Another item to keep in mind is the fact that heavier vehicles tend to offer more protection in a crash than lighter ones, which makes the weight of the vehicle a factor to consider.

Some of the most affordable offerings that offered the Top Safety Pick + include the Chrysler 200, Scion iA, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan Maxima.  For the small SUV segment the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 are some of the safest choices in this highly popular segment.  For the sedans the Honda Accord, Mazda6, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Jetta and Volkswagen Passat all performed extremely well.

Even though the US models didn’t fare well for the 2016 testing, you still see a long list of great vehicles that are perfect for you to choose from and have the vehicle that is right for you that will also keep your family safe.