Shopping for a new car can feel a little overwhelming – especially with today’s high-tech safety features. From crash avoidance to emergency autobrake, today’s car shoppers have more options than ever before.
- Safest Small Suv 2019 Reviews
- Safest Small Suv 2020
- Best Safest Small Suv 2019
- Top 10 Safest Small Suv
- Top 10 Safest Suv 2017
- Safest Small Suv 2019 Australia
Safest Small Suv 2019 Reviews
2019 GMC Terrain Terrain is the smallest GMC SUV, and it is designed for plenty of comfort and refinement. It is also the least expensive GMC SUV, which is why the Terrain does not provide many active safety features as standard. Therefore, the entry-level SL does not have specific safety tech an option at all. More than a hatchback, yet not quite a full-bore SUV, the funky Hyundai Kona is among the safest small cars for 2020. We dig its agile handling and, with the optional turbocharged engine and all. The Hyundai Kona knocked the Kia Soul off our 10Best SUVs list in 2019, but it's not at the top of this list anymore, thanks to some new kids on the block. The Kona is a testament to how far.
Luckily, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives us common folks a great place to start with their annual list of TOP SAFETY PICK awards. Whether you’re actively shopping or just seeing what’s out there, here’s what made the cut for 2019.
How It Works (And What They Score)
Since 2006, the safety experts at the IIHS (a nonprofit research and education organization) conduct tests to determine which vehicles do the best job of protecting people in the most common kinds of crashes — front, side, rollover and rear.
Related: Learn more about the science of road safety at the IIHS
This isn’t a participation trophy. Standards for the TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards are tough. Over time, the IIHS has strengthened the criteria as new technology – and crash test protocols – become available. In the 2013 model year, they added the top-tier “plus” award to acknowledge the best of the best.
Here’s what this year’s winners had to do to earn each award:
- TOP SAFETY PICK+: This year, 30 models were awarded the top-tier award. These all earned the highest rating for passenger-side protection in a small overlap front crash and have good-rated available headlights. (Headlight testing was added to the criteria just last year.)
- TOP SAFETY PICK: The 27 winners of the second-tier award earned acceptable or higher rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test and the nighttime headlight evaluation.
- Both: Together, all 57 award-winning vehicles have good ratings in the IIHS’ five other crashworthiness evaluations. They all also have an available automatic emergency braking system that rates advanced or superior for front crash prevention.
For more details on how crash tests work (and what they look for), visit the safety ratings page on the IIHS website.
THE 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK+ Winners
After the IIHS toughened up its testing criteria for 2018, only 15 vehicles earned the top-tier “plus” rating. In turn, auto manufacturers stepped up their game. For 2019, the winners’ list doubled to a total of 30 vehicles.Here they are by category:
Small Cars:
- Honda Insight
- Hyundai Elantra (built after September 2018)
- Kia Forte
- Kia Niro hybrid
- Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
- Subaru Crosstrek
- Subaru Impreza 4-door sedan
- Subaru Impreza wagon
- Subaru WRX
Midsize Cars:
- Hyundai Sonata
- Kia Optima
- Subaru Legacy
- Subaru Outback
- Toyota Camry
Midsize Luxury Cars:
- Genesis G70
- Lexus ES
Large Car:
- Toyota Avalon (built after September 2018)
Large Luxury Cars:
- BMW 5 series
- Genesis G80
- Genesis G90
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4-door sedan
Small SUVs:
- Hyundai Kona
- Mazda CX-5
Midsize SUVs:
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Kia Sorento
- Subaru Ascent
Midsize luxury SUVs:
- Acura RDX
- BMW X3
- Mercedes-Benz GLC
- Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Want more? See the remaining 27 winners in the TOP SAFETY PICK category (plus safety ratings for older cars) at IIHS.org.
Auto Insurance for New and Used Cars
If you’re shopping for a car, you’ll also need car insurance. Get an online auto insurance quote or check out these helpful links for further reading:
Whether you’re buying your first set of used wheels or moving up to your first brand new car, we’re eager to help you find coverage that’s the right fit for your pride and joy. Find a local ERIE agent in your neighborhood or read more about auto insurance from ERIE.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested the effectiveness of pedestrian detection systems in 11 small SUVs, with most of the vehicles performing well, to show the potential of the feature in preventing accidents. This safety feature consists of airbag systems with sensors which detect factors like 4×4 vehicle occupant size, the position of the seats and the potential crash severity. These factors determine the level at which the front driver and passenger airbags inflate. This system also reduces the risk of an airbag-related injury or death to a child or small adult.
The organization gave 20 SUVs its “top safety pick” designation. The Chevrolet Suburban is the progenitor of all SUVs and can either be credited or blamed for spawning the segment back in 1935, depending on your viewpoint. We’re okay with it because the Suburban goes about its business in a very workaday and honest manner that we admire. Properly outfitted, it can move up to nine people and their stuff and tow up to 8300 pounds. Although a 355-hp V-8 is standard, there’s an optional 420-hp V-8 for added motivation. It’ll help you get back to nature even quicker.
The Encore small luxury SUV is equipped with 10 standard airbags† and offers a suite of available safety technologies to help give you confidence each time you take the wheel. While its head-turning styling may draw you in, it’s the Hyundai Kona ‘s fun-to-drive nature and a high-value lineup that made it an easy pick for our 2019 10Best list. Behind its oddly shaped front grille is either a 147-hp four-cylinder or a 175-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, the latter of which proved to be quick at our test track. The interior isn’t as wildly styled as the sheet metal, but it’s charming and user-friendly. Cargo and passenger space isn’t as generous as in larger SUVs, but most buyers will still find the Kona to be handy for road trips and grocery runs.
Safest Small Suv 2020
With a vehicle for almost every occasion, Toyota is a popular brand on the roads. In its small car line-up, Toyota offers people favorites like the Yaris and Corolla, as well as the hybrid Prius C for those looking to be a bit greener. Improving from last year’s results, Toyota has rated five stars in multiple categories, including reliability, point of sale service and driving experience, and earned the only five-star result for car servicing. Toyota rated four stars for after-sale service, value for money and overall satisfaction.
Toyota has fitted its smallest SUV with the same petrol-electric hybrid system that features in the Prius The Japanese carmaker refers to it as self-charging, meaning the driver never has to think about how things are working as the car’s computers control the petrol engine a battery-powered motor to give the most efficient drive possible, while maintaining the charge of the battery.
Best Safest Small Suv 2019
The 2017 Nissan Rogue is proving to be a hot seller and for many good reasons. It’s one of the smallest SUVs to feature a third-row seat, providing in-a-pinch seating for seven, and its upscale interior belies its affordable price. Safety is a strong point as well. Like the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Rogue only scores four out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests, but we’re more impressed with its strong scores across the board in the IIHS’ offset-deformable barrier tests (which, in our opinion, bear more similarities to a real-world crash.) Collision mitigation with automatic braking and adaptive headlights are optional on the Rogue, and when it is so equipped, it earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus rating.
Top 10 Safest Small Suv
In addition, car lighting is another part in-car driving, with safe lighting that can not only avoid the traffic accident caused but also reduce the oncoming traffic for the opposite drivers. You can buy a better 9007 led headlight bulb on the website, but you need to have a good choice.
Top 10 Safest Suv 2017
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