Top 5 Safest Cars

When shopping for a new car, looks and engine capacity are important, but so is safety. Statistics show that in 2012 there were 30,000 fatalities on highways, while more than ten times as many minor accidents. Where it comes to driver and passenger safety, the top 5 safest cars according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are:

Dodge Dart

The Dodge Dart might be small but is big on safety. It comes equipped with more airbags than you thought possible for such a small vehicle. Whether you’re the driver, front seat passenger or seated in the back, all round airbags ensure your safety. There’s even an airbag underneath the instrument panel to prevent knee injuries.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has rated high on safety since 2006 and has become a safety leader. While at one time there were some concerns about leg protection and head restrains, in 2013 the Civic received the nod of approval from the IIHS. Overall evaluation, injury measures, structure and safety cage and restrain dummy kinematics were all rated as good.

Subaru

The Subaru ensures its driver and passenger’s safety not only with airbags, but with a change lane warning system, pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, a ring shaped reinforcement frame and an eye sight camera system to avoid hazardous circumstances.

Volvo S60

Swedish made Volvo is legendary for safety, solidity and excels in the IIHS crash test. This is a car that can take a bump. In addition to front, back and side airbags, the Volvo S60 comes equipped with brake assist, four wheel ABS, stability control, traction control, lane change warnings and a blind spot monitor.

Acura RLX

The IIHS gave the sleek Acura RLX one of the highest safety ratings. The car has plenty of airbags, including knee bags to ensure safety during a collision. In addition, the Acura RLX sports stability control, a rear view camera giving a 180 degree wide view, blind spot monitors, change lane control, and sensors and alerts to avoid low speed accidents.

All in all, recent manufactured cars are high on safety, which are sure to bring the number of fatalities and fender benders down.