Every car company likes to present their safety credentials to drivers. These promise to keep them safe in the event of an accident and reduce the risk of serious injury substantially.
But who is actually making the most safety-focused cars? Which brands should you prioritize if you want to protect yourself from injury on the road?
That’s the topic of this post. We look at some of the brands making the safest cars and how they can help you avoid collisions or minimize damage if you’re unlucky enough to get into one.
Volvo
Volvo sits at the top of the list. The Swedish automaker is famous for its safety policies and bold ambition to eliminate serious injuries from its vehicles entirely.
Previously, the carmaker said it wanted zero fatalities in its vehicles by 2020. It’s since pushed that back to 2030 but the spirit of its innovations remains the same.
For example, it currently uses multiple driver assistance technologies to reduce fatalities, allowing computers to take over driving when it detects a potential issue via the various onboard sensors. Its vehicles also incorporate intelligent three-point seatbelt designs, something the company pioneered many years ago.
However, Volvo is setting its targets higher than this in the future. It wants to be able to guarantee the people using its vehicles that they won’t die under any circumstances while driving them.
Tesla
Thanks to its focus on technology, Tesla is a close second. The company is more risk-loving than an old stalwart, like Volvo, but the fact that it is pressing forward with computer-aided innovations so rapidly means it is in a good position to dominate the market in the future.
What makes it so special? First of all, it doesn’t have to work around an internal combustion engine. Vehicles, like the Model X and Model S, have more internal cavity space for safety features and crumple zones, simply because their motors take up so much less room. This factor means that Tesla vehicles perform exceptionally well in NHTSA crash tests. Vehicles can absorb enormous quantities of punishment before risking passengers inside.
The fact that the battery is at the bottom of the vehicle is another feature that makes these cars far safer. Tesla is on record saying that rollovers are almost impossible in its vehicles, due to the ultra-low centre of gravity. Even high-speed shunts by trains don’t seem to flip these cars, again, reducing the risk to passengers substantially.
Subaru
Subaru is another lesser-known manufacturer making extremely safe cars these days. The Japanese manufacturer is building on decades of experience, creating vehicles with unique technologies that apply across its range. Almost all options are highly rated and earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards which isn’t even the case for Volvo!
The company’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive for Stability and EyeSight Driver Assist Technology are its standout features. These adjust to driving conditions, allowing vehicles to be more functional and adept on the road. Cars can predict what might happen next and adjust the signals going to the wheels accordingly.
Subaru doesn’t make a huge fuss about its various breakthroughs. But people in the know often choose its SUVs, particularly if they have families they want to protect.
Mazda
Coming in fourth place is another Japanese brand, this time Mazda. Over the last few years, the company has undergone a massive revamp to make it more internationally competitive. Its vehicles are now highly prized for their looks and safety technology.
Again, Mazda is a company that consistently produces IIHS Top Safety Pick+ vehicles. In this respect, it is similar to European makes, like Volvo.
Mazda’s main focus is on driver safety and engagement. But it also uses advanced crumple zone technology, allowing it to perform well in an assortment of crash test scenarios.
What makes Mazda so special? Cars like the CX-5 can reduce risks to passengers.
Javier Villarreal, a car accident lawyer, sees tremendous benefits from modern Japanese cars. “While people still get injured in these vehicles, many of these cars offer more protection. The problem most people have is that the vehicle that hits them is far larger than their car, or they’re exposed to the elements, say, on a motorcycle.”
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes is another automaker with a strong history of making safe cars. While it has taken its foot off the proverbial gas pedal in this area in recent years, it still offers some of the top technology in the industry, due to massive investment.
For example, Mercedes is famous for its Pre-Safe systems. These provide drivers with a heads-up when things might get dangerous, with newer models able to wrest controls from the driver and essentially take over. E
Many cars in the company’s range also have related crash avoidance systems. These help with lane discipline, automatic braking in dangerous situations, and adaptive cruise control. Ultimately, these inventions improve the experience for the driver and help them manage challenging circumstances on the road more effectively.
Mercedes-Benz has reasonably robust crash-test results. However, the company’s focus on luxury over safety is a downside on some models, particularly those designed for the track.
Audi
Luxury brand Audi is also keen on safety features, although they aren’t quite as advanced as the industry’s top performers. Most of the new technologies find their way into SUVs like the Q7 and sedans, like the A6, before trickling down into the rest of the range. This means that you’re unlikely to get the latest tech if you go for an entry-level model.
The advanced driver-assist features on modern Audis are perhaps their standout feature. These connect to road-facing sensors that monitor surrounding traffic and provide drivers with everything they need to stay safe.
In summary, brands are getting better at making safer cars. However, the sort of breakthroughs companies like Volvo want to see still seem several decades away. While it might be possible to eliminate fatalities eventually, today’s road landscape remains messy and it isn’t clear whether any existing technologies can prevent harm.