Every year lists come out that people with auto careers and drivers alike are quite interested to read: top car of the year, top truck, best mileage, best fuel economy and more. But what consumers with families, and a growing segment of the car driving population look for above all else, is safety.
Auto sales college graduates want to know what the safest cars are so they know what models to offer when their customers are looking for those special features. Likewise, mechanic colleges need to prepare their students for which cars get banged up the most (and the least) in accidents.
With that in mind, here are the top five safest vehicles of 2014:
Audi A4
Not only did Audi’s A4 ace the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTS)’s crash tests to earn a five star rating, but this sedan along with its sister model the S4, has additional safety features, including forward collision warning. If you’re looking for a bit of luxury combined with safety, there’s the elegant and roomy all-road version.
Dodge Caravan
If you have a family, you probably know about the Dodge Caravan. It is, after all, the best-selling minivan in Canada. You’ve probably also heard about its built-in multimedia centre which features a rear-view camera and GPS navigation. While the safety benefits of those two devices are obvious, the Caravan also offers something that you may not think of as a safety feature, at least not in the traditional sense: entertainment. While satellite radio and two DVD players are a fun addition, they serve a dual purpose of keeping the kids in the back seat calm and entertained, which usually means they’ll also be well behaved. This leads to less distraction and stress on the driver, and a much safer ride for the whole family.
Kia Optima
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded both the regular and hybrid versions of the Kia Optima with a Safety Pick+ designation and they got top ratings across the board in NHTS testing. Also, the sticker price is $21,500, so the Kia Optima is a safe pick for the wallet, too.
Volvo S60
The words Volvo and safety are practically synonymous. For years, Volvo cars have received top safety ratings and 2014’s S60 was no different. It passed every safety test with flying colours thanks to standard features such as forward collision warning. Autonet.ca were even calling next year’s model, which hadn’t come out yet, a likely safety benchmark for its class.
Subaru Legacy
With forward collision warning and lane departure warning, the 2014 Subaru Legacy aced all of the NHTSA safety tests and earned Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. And that’s just if you’re in a crash. This mid-sized vehicle has improved traction and handling, so you may just avoid that crash altogether.
Can you think of any other cars that prioritize safety and should be included? Please let us know in the comments.
