If you’re considering a new car purchase in 2017, it’s important to know which makes and models will keep you and your family safe in the event of a crash. (Because really, this should be the first thing we look at before we buy!)
To make sure your 2017 car is safe, experts at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-test all sorts of vehicles in all sorts of different ways.
There are five categories that each car has to pass in order to be a Top Safety Pick. The categories are:
- Moderate overlap frontal test: They run the car into a wall that, when hit, covers 40% of the front of the car.
- Small overlap frontal test: Same as the moderate overlap, but the wall covers 25% of the car when hit (think: hitting a telephone pole).
- Side test: Here they test side impact.
- Roof strength: They test the roof’s ability to hold its shape during a roll-over. The car needs to handle a force that’s at least four times its own weight, or a ratio of 4:1.
- Head restraint test: This is done to make sure your neck is protected in the event of an accident.
If a car has passes the previous requirements, it qualifies for Top Safety Pick+ consideration. Along with the five previous categories, this prestigious award adds the following:
- Front crash prevention: This tests the computers in your car to see if they can prevent a frontal crash.
- Headlights: They make sure you can see the deer in the ditch from hundreds of yards away.
In order to make comparisons simple, the IIHS divided the cars into different classes and sizes. They didn’t want to compare apples to oranges, or large trucks to small cars.
Also, with most of these cars, there are certain models and add-on features that, when present, received this award, so make sure you read the fine print for each safe car.
Below is a list of every 2017 car, SUV, minivan and truck that were either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+:
Top Safety Picks
Minicars
Small cars
2017 Honda Civic 2-door coupe*
2017 Honda Civic 4-door sedan*
2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack*
2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen*
Midsize cars
2017 Honda Accord 2-door coupe*
Midsize luxury cars
Large cars
Large luxury cars
Small SUVs
Midsize SUVs
Midsize luxury SUVs
Large SUVs
Minivans
2017 Kia Sedona*
Top Safety Picks +
Small cars
2017 Mazda 3*^
4-door hatchback | 4-door sedan
Midsize cars
2017 Honda Accord 4-door sedan*^
Midsize luxury cars
Large luxury cars
Small SUVs
Midsize SUVs
Midsize luxury SUVs
Minivans
Large pickups
* — with optional front crash prevention
^ — with specific headlights
# — applies to certain models and vehicles built after a certain date
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.
