The new year is upon us, and with it comes a barrage of new vehicles rolling off the assembly lines. More and more people are looking for not only dependable, sensibly priced vehicles to purchase, but they are interested in those with the best safety features as well. Nationwide, businesses and organizations like AARP, Costco, and even Ford Motors currently offer their members and employees the opportunity to participate in new and used car programs. At the forefront of every campaign to attract members, these organizations promote safety as a top concern.
Why All the Fuss?
Technological advances have drastically changed the car buying and driving experience since the days of Henry Ford and speed limits ranging from 8 to 15 miles per hour. As speed limits have increased over the years, so has the need to ensure the safety of drivers and their passengers. Since 2006, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded its Top Safety Pick honor to vehicles that perform best in crash tests against other vehicles in their size categories.
We thought we’d take a few minutes to share some of the IIHS’s top safety picks for 2019. Keep in mind that larger, heavier vehicles usually afford occupants more protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter vehicles. A smaller vehicle that earns the award cannot be expected to offer more protection than larger ones, just other vehicles of similar weight. Each car on our list was chosen by the IIHS for their optional front crash prevention and/or specific headlights features, which outperformed other vehicles in their class.
IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2019
Minicars
Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio
Midsize Cars
Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry
Large Cars
Kia Cadenza and Toyota Avalon
Small SUVs
Honda CRV, Mazda CX-3, and Mitsubishi Outlander
Midsize Luxury SUVs
Acura RDX and BMW X3
Small Cars
Hyundai Insight, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Soul
Midsize Luxury Cars
Audi A3, Genesis G70, and Lexus ES 350
Large Luxury Cars
BMW 5 series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Midsize SUVs
Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander
Minivans
Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey
When Accidents Happen…
So, considering the business we’re in, why are we sharing this list of safe vehicles with you? Well, who can resist a great list of things to spend their money on? Truthfully, there would really be no need for emphasis on vehicle safety features if accidents never happened. Let’s face it, even the most aware drivers in the safest of vehicles can have the misfortune of having one. When that happens, we will be there.
Whether it’s a major car accident or just a minor fender-bender, getting through the trauma it can cause is hard enough without having to worry about time wasted on over-priced repairs that take way too long to complete. It doesn’t matter if your car is new or old, a luxury car with all the trimmings, or a work truck. If you need body work that is professional, reliable, and reasonably priced, you can count on Downtown Autobody to do the job right.
