When buying a car, each person is guided by his own criteria. Some are interested in the design of the car, some in style, some in spaciousness, while others are simply passionate about speed and cannot live without it. However, every driver accidentally puts safety first when driving.
This is not a joke; airbags and protective systems have more than once saved the lives of drivers in road accidents. The rating was compiled by reputable automobile publications in America together with the Institute for Highway Safety. It has a place not only for expensive and branded cars, but also for medium and modest versions.
Top 10
The Toyota Prius closes the ranking of the safest cars in the world. The machine is not only the most reliable, but also the most economical in terms of cost and maintenance. The manufacturer was able to combine price and quality indicators of equipment. The model also has a low level of environmental pollution.
Even during the most extreme crash tests, the car showed excellent results and received high marks for occupant protection. According to EuroNCAP it received the highest safety rating. The model received 5 stars for the use of high-strength steels in the body structure, which prevent severe deformation of the car frame.
The Prius is the most popular hybrid vehicle. The developers were able to combine a gasoline engine with an electric drive. At low speeds, the car is driven by an electrical installation.
Jeep Cherokee
Among the safest cars in the world, the Jeep Cherokee ranks fourth. The car is equipped with a cruise control system, which allows you to navigate by radar and video cameras, helps maintain the required distance on the road between other cars, and is also capable of completely stopping the vehicle if necessary. The model is also equipped with Lane Departure Warning Plus, which warns of crossing road markings, which provides additional safety on the roads.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The German company has always presented the Tiguan as a crossover for the family. He is one of the leaders in the question of which car is the safest in the last ten years, and ranks ninth on our list. Considering this fact, you can purchase this model and be satisfied with the comfort and safety of the SUV.
In a frontal collision, the risk of injury from the dashboard or steering wheel is minimized. But safety indicators for pedestrians are the lowest.
The collision avoidance system allows you to automatically reduce your speed. During testing, when an obstacle appeared, the crossover reduced its speed by almost half. As a result, body deformation was minimal.
Child protection is ensured by special ISO-fix mounts in the rear row of seats. Many airbags help maintain the health of passengers in all seats.
No. 2 - Mercedes-Benz GLC
The new GLK has become noticeably more elegant, due to major updates in the aerodynamics of the car. The body is made of lightweight but extremely durable aluminum, which helped both reduce the overall weight of the machine and increase its reliability and safety. The interior has become even more solid and stylish; the dashboard has a new 8-inch LCD screen with touch control.
The GLK 350 comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 302 horsepower, and the GLK 250, as always, is more modest, but also at its best - a 2.1-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 200 horsepower. These beauties cost about $40,000, but what did you want from a Mercedes?
Famous Japanese woman
Toyota Corolla ranks eighth among budget and safest cars. The car uses materials that perfectly withstand the climate and operating conditions in our country. Demand for it initially appeared in the CIS due to its low maintenance and fuel requirements.
Standard security systems included in the model:
- ABS (anti-lock braking system prevents the brake pads from locking during emergency braking);
- EBD (brake force distribution function);
- TRC (traction control system reduces torque when wheels slip on the road surface);
- VSC (vehicle stability, prevents skidding during sharp turns or on slippery surfaces);
- BA (assistant during emergency braking, increases the force on the brakes when applied insufficiently).
The simplicity and fairly budget-friendly execution of technical equipment allowed the Japanese company to pay more attention to safety. Airbags provide health protection in the event of a collision. Therefore, the car became the company's best-selling model. It withstands numerous tests of climate and extreme conditions.
Volvo V90
The Volvo V90 is a premium station wagon with increased cross-country ability. Even in the basic configuration, this car boasts cutting-edge safety technologies, namely a system for detecting large objects on the road and a system for preventing leaving the road.
The Volvo V90 earned the highest score in the emergency braking system test. The Volvo S90 received no less high marks. For the first time, the Euro NCAP trio consists exclusively of Volvo models. This means that at the moment this is the safest car brand.
"Honda Civic"
Along with the previous representative of the land of the rising sun, Honda produced one of the safest cars among competitors in the class. The main advantage of the machine is the electronic systems that ensure the protection and reliability of the model. The software monitors the driving condition and notifies the driver of any deviations during movement.
One of the shortcomings in the safety systems is the lack of protective airbags in the knee area.
An important aspect is that the company periodically updates the version, and together with the control systems, the appearance of the model also changes. Almost all the parts feel great in our conditions, which indicates the reliability and durability of the car.
Lexus IS 300h
Silver goes to the Lexus IS 300h , which was able to take second place in the list of the safest cars. For the protection of adult passengers, the car was able to score 91 points out of 100, for the safety of children - 85. Lexus was also awarded a good rating for pedestrian safety in the bumper area. The model has an “active hood” that reacts to a collision using sensors and automatically opens, providing additional pedestrian protection. The model passed the Euro NCAP test, scoring 66 points for the reliability of electronic systems, which fully meets the requirements of the European organization.
Safe sedan
The sixth place is occupied by the Hyundai Elantra. The model received this position in the rating of the safest cars thanks to the use by the developers of a collision avoidance system. The sedan has a built-in automatic braking function when obstacles arise, as well as a pedestrian identification function in the path of travel.
The sedan differs from representatives of its class in its reinforced body, redesigned airbags, and the implementation of visual and audio warnings to the driver about the threat of a collision. In a frontal accident, the body is dented into the interior by 5 centimeters.
These options are optional for the 2017 Elantra. Despite this, even older models are the safest small cars.
Latest safety assessment criteria
American journalists conducted a survey of motorists regarding transport safety ratings. The main objective of the study was to find out what other criteria car owners would like to include in this test.
These criteria included:
- vehicle's ability to avoid a collision
- radar sensors and video cameras for additional visibility
- availability of braking systems to minimize the consequences of an accident
- Availability of lane keeping assistant.
If research associations listen to this survey, we will see more and more interesting rankings in the near future.
The third Mazda model
The golden mean of our top is occupied by a car from the Japanese manufacturer Mazda. Thanks to the use of a large number of electronic protection systems, the Mazda 3 model is among the top safest cars. Along with its functionality, the machine also boasts excellent reliability of its technical components.
In addition to the reinforced body, the car has an independent suspension, which contributes to excellent handling and maneuverability on any surface, whether wet or dry.
The model is not demanding in maintenance and is not very demanding on fuel quality, which is important for our country. Therefore, many experts recommend this car for purchase even on the secondary market.
Mazda 3 is the most beautiful car among the vehicles reviewed on this list.
Rating of the most dangerous cars in the world and the safest place in the car
The idea of the most dangerous cars in the world varies depending on the safety standards adopted in each specific country , the parameters by which it is determined, the characteristics of the operation and maintenance of cars.
The most dangerous cars and their place in the ranking often differ even within the same country, if the determination of the degree of safety was carried out by different organizations. All article data is taken from open sources.
It is undeniable that in general, cars produced in the countries of the former CIS are more dangerous than vehicles developed in Europe and the USA. Therefore, the ratings of domestic and foreign cars should be considered separately.
The following is a list of cars that are considered the most dangerous in the EU.
Kia Rio
There are approximately 149 deaths per 1 million registered vehicles. Of these, 96 were accidents involving other vehicles, 54 were single accidents and 15 were vehicle rollovers. This is the most dangerous car in the modern world, according to Western researchers.
Nissan versa sedan
130 deaths per 1 million cars - the Nissan Versa sedan ranks firmly second in the ranking of the most dangerous cars in Europe. Of the total number of deaths, 44 were in accidents with other vehicles, 87 in single accidents and 51 in rollovers.
Hyundai accent 4-door
The four-door Hyundai Accent took third place, with 120 fatalities per 1 million vehicles. Most often, people die in collisions with other cars - 65 deaths. 53 of the fatalities were from single vehicle accidents and 16 from rollovers.
Chevrolet aveo 4-door
Although not the most dangerous, it is also a very unsafe car. About 99 people die in accidents involving the Aveo sedan for every million registered cars. Of these, 60 were in collisions with other cars, 31 in single accidents and 10 in rollovers.
Hyundai accent 2-door
The two-door accent turned out to be somewhat safer than its four-door counterpart. There are 86 fatalities per 1 million vehicles. Of these, 43 people die in accidents with other vehicles, 48 in single accidents, 20 in rollovers.
The most dangerous place in a European-made car (except for the driver) is in the back, immediately behind the driver. This is contrary to the generally accepted point of view, but that is how it is. The fact is that hits to the rear right side of a car (the diplomatic seat) are extremely rare in countries with right-hand traffic.
The front passenger seat is usually well protected by active and passive safety systems. The central seat is the safest (provided that the person is wearing a seat belt), since the passenger is as far as possible from all the side surfaces of the car.
Hazard rating of domestically produced cars
In Russia and the countries of the former CIS, another rating is still relevant, listing the most dangerous cars.
Old hard-bodied cars
On our roads you can still find rarities like the GAZ-21, which have rigid bodies and are extremely resistant to deformation. It would seem that the most dangerous thing in such a car is to be late for work while waiting for the traffic police. But in reality everything is different.
In the event of a collision, the rigid body transfers all the impact energy directly to the driver. Combined with the design lack of seat belts, this makes “old cars” one of the most dangerous cars in the world.
"Classic" AvtoVAZ
“Classic” cars produced by VAZ up to and including 2012 have a safety design corresponding to the 60s of the 20th century. In the modern world, with its high speeds and crowded highways, the standards of those years can no longer provide at least some safety to the driver and passengers of “kopecks” and “sevens”.
The conversation about the most dangerous place in a car is irrelevant here. In case of serious accidents, the “classic” is literally torn apart. There are no safe places.
Cars of the brand "Samara" (2108-21099) and "Samara 2" (2113-2115)
Despite the significant difference in model years, cars of the Samara and Samara 2 brands have practically no differences in body structure.
At the same time, the older 2108 - 21099 are more resistant to minor damage due to the strong bumper.
Both the first and second Samar families are not the safest from the point of view of survival of the driver and passengers. However, the chance of survival in these cars is slightly higher than in a Zhiguli.
VAZ 2110-2112, GAZ 24 – 31105, Lada Kalina
"Volgas" (almost regardless of the model) and the "tenth" VAZ family are by far safer cars. However, even here there are no airbags, belt pretensioners, and the body structure is not optimal for absorbing and redistributing the impact force. Therefore, “tens” and “Volgas” cannot be considered safe.
Largus, Granta, Vesta
The safest generation of domestic cars is the latest model cars (Lada Largus, Granta, Vesta). These cars are created using European technologies, meet average safety requirements, have airbags, a collapsible front frame, and active safety systems.
Despite existing ratings, the most dangerous car in the world is the one driven by an arrogant and inexperienced driver.
Even the safest vehicle will not be able to protect a driver who ignores the speed limit, traffic rules and common sense requirements.
German quality
The C-Class model from the German company Mercedes-Benz has a stylish appearance, prestige and excellent security indicators. This contributed to getting into the top of the safest cars in the world.
If you are aiming to purchase a car of this brand, then you should separately consider this model. Along with excellent electronic equipment, the materials used in the body structure have excellent resistance to deformation in a collision. It is also worth noting that due to the specific location of the airbags, the model is the safest car for children.
The car has active safety systems that help the driver cope with many problems that arise while driving. Assistance during steep ascents or descents, avoiding obstacles during skidding and slipping, and much more contribute to safety when traveling.
The engines are distinguished by their reliability and durability among European manufacturers.
9Acura MDX
The Japanese car Acura MDX is ranked ninth among the most reliable in the world. This model belongs to the premium class and has the highest scores from the IIHS Institute, and also has a Top Safety Pick “+” rating. This machine is equipped with collision avoidance systems that can notify the driver of possible frontal contacts. The passive safety of everyone inside the Acura is ensured by a wide range of protective airbags, as well as an airbag that protects the knees of the person sitting behind the wheel.
Bronze position
The third place is shared between two car manufacturers. German Porsche Panamera and French Peugeot 3008.
The Stuttgart car is the only representative of the premium class among all those considered in our rating of the safest cars. It was included here not only because of its excellent performance in crash tests, but also because of the excellent reliability of the car. Everything in the model is aimed at the convenience and protection of the driver and passengers. Front and side airbags, exchange rate stability system, traction control, adaptive optics - this is not the entire list of “assistants” used by the manufacturer.
The Parisian crossover has a memorable appearance. The car is available to many people for purchase due to its low cost compared to classmates. The 3008 model is the safest car, and its crash test results earned it third place on our list. The jeep has an automatic emergency braking system in the event of a threat of collision or an obstacle along the vehicle's path.
Renault Zoe
In 2013, the compact model Renault Zoe In its class, it scored the maximum points: 89 out of 100 for driver and adult passenger safety, 80% for child protection and 66 points for pedestrian safety. However, the model showed poor protection in frontal and side collisions with a pole. Renault Zoe is not currently available in Russia.
Silver place
Another representative of Germany fell just short of first place. Audi produces the A6 model, which, due to the use of high-quality metal in the structure, underwent minimal deformation during crash tests. The electronic “filling” works smoothly and without complaints. The airbags do their job perfectly.
Thanks to all this, the Audi A6 was able to break into the leadership of our top safest cars on the domestic market.
The car is also very reliable. The sedan's suspension and engine are designed in such a way that after tens of thousands of kilometers the owner will not worry about the condition of the components.
No. 7 - Hyundai Santa Fe
The list of the safest cars of 2018-2019 also includes the base Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport, but the first one is much more common on our roads, so let’s talk about it. A crossover, more like a full-fledged SUV, is especially relevant in Russia - while modest sedans from the South Korean manufacturer suffer from the domestic road surface, Santa Fe is not afraid of off-road conditions and feels great in the city.
The buyer can choose a two-liter gasoline engine or a 2.2-liter diesel engine, but what remains unchanged is a serious 255 horsepower. Paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or automatic transmission, the crossover delivers amazing dynamics and handling, and its safety is the stuff of legends; you can often see the results of a collision between this beauty and another car, when the bumper of the first one is slightly damaged, and the second one is about to go for scrap.
Top 1 rating
The top of our rating is occupied by another representative of German quality – the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The manufacturer has invested the maximum of its capabilities into creating a truly reliable and protected car. Currently, you can find this model in very good condition on the secondary market.
Mercedes is the brand of the safest cars, this is proven not only by the quality and prestige of the brand, but also by the guarantee secured by the high cost of the model. The service life is long, which indicates the reliability of the components and mechanisms installed on the machine.
Thanks to its design and many electronic systems, the S-Class is the safest car not only in its line-up, but also in the entire vehicle market. Everything about it is aimed at protecting passengers and the driver. Side and front airbags, rollover protection, adaptive control systems, ISO-fix mounts for child seats, seat belts that are comfortable and reliable - this is a list of standard functional options, but it is not all.
Therefore, if you have the necessary amount to purchase a Mercedes of this class, then it is worth purchasing this particular model. It rightfully receives gold in our top list of the safest cars in the world.
The list of brands and models of vehicles considered is by no means exhaustive. The most popular cars are presented based on the preferences and reviews of owners. The opinions of experts and the results of crash tests were not ignored.
8Mazda 3
The Japanese Mazda 3 confidently passed crash tests by various organizations, following which it was awarded a five-star rating and a Top Safety Pick “+”. The car received such high scores regarding safety features by resisting side collisions as well as frontal impacts. It is equipped with a function to notify other motorists about an emergency stop. And the Smart City Brake Support system allows you to avoid an accident when the driver is distracted by maintaining the required distance between other road users. At low speeds, the car can independently engage the braking system and stop moving. In addition, Mazda is equipped with a system of so-called “anti-blind spots”, which allows its driver to fully assess the situation behind. But this model did not score good points for creating safety for pedestrian traffic participants, since it has rigid pillars in the area of the windshield.
