4 safest carsof2015

NiyiOmo-Okiri
Safety is no longer a back-burner priority for new-car shoppers. Across most types ofvehicle shoppers, it’s one ofthe top concerns. Many families, aswe recommend, start their shopping process byweeding out potential vehicles that simply don’t make the cut in occupant safety.
However, in 2015 that’s less straightforward than it’s been in the past. There are so many five-star government safety ratings; so manywell-stocked safety feature lists, and so manytop safety picks from the Federal Road SafetyCommission that it’s hard to filter out those that are the best from those that are merely better than average.

2015 Subaru Legacy

“The Legacy haspegged the Top Safety Pick+ meter, andit’s a perfect five-star performer.”
The 2015 Subaru Legacy achieves top-notch results in every single category. What makes it stand out, even above other models that achieve the same, is that it’s also one ofthe fewmodels to manage the ‘Superior’ front crash prevention rating when equipped with the optional EyeSight system. Even better, we think, is that you don’t haveto go for the most expensive model in the line-up to get that potential life-saver; it’s available onthe affordable premium models, where youcan add it and get a sedan with things like Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, anda system that canbrake youto a stop short of animminent collision in some cases, or lessen the severity ofone byreducing speeds.

2015 Volvo S60

“The 2015 Volvo S60 hasstrong crash-test scores andan impressive arrayofelectronic safety systems.”
Going bytest results andcrash-test ratings, the 2015 Volvo S60 could be the safestcar on the market. It’s the paragon ofsafety if youplace a lot of emphasis on crash-test results, with a perfect flush offive-star ratings in every single area. And there’s a lot of active safety on offer, if you’re willing to check a fewoption boxes. It’s also for years been one of the top performers, with some ofthe lowest rates of injury related insurance losses among luxury sedans.

2015 Hyundai Genesis

“With respect to active-safety features, the 2015 Hyundai Genesis has now caught up to the best from Germany, Japan,or Detroit.”
The Genesis serves as the flagshipluxury model for Hyundai’s range of vehicles, but it deserves to make shoppers’ shortlists asmuch for safety asfor features and creature comforts, The Automatic Emergency Braking system that’s available in the Genesis, aspart of the Technology Package, is one of the fewactive-safety systems to be rated as ‘Superior’ in testing. Furthermore, the fully optioned Genesis hasa critical massofactive-safety items (what Hyundai calls the SensorySurround Safety System), including things like Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Lane ChangeAssist (LCA)—as well as LaneKeep Assist (LKA), which will actually make mild steering corrections to help keep youin your lane if attention lapses.

2015 Mazda CX-5

“The CX-5 is a safety superstar, with excellent crash-test ratings and an advancedforward-colli­sion warning system.”
Going bycrash-test results, the 2015 MazdaCX-5 is the top performer in its class, with fivestars in all the federalcrash categories, aswell astop ‘good’ results in every single category—and the ‘Advanced’ rating for front crash prevention when equipped with the optional Smart City Brake Support, which will brake youautomatically for hazards at speeds rang­ing from 4 to 19 mph.
To get that feature, youdo need to step-up to the top-of-the-line Grand Touring model and its Technology Package.

2015 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

“The 2015 M-Class has some standout active-safety features, aswell astop-tier crash-test ratings.”
Mercedes-Benz has, for decades, made someof the vehicles with the lowest rates of fatalityandinjury.
Relatively fewofits current models have been rated byboth U.S. agencies—which keeps more ofthem from being given a perfect ‘10’ in safety—but the M-Class stands asan exception. It’s earned top ratings in both crash-test protocols, andits set ofactive-safety items is one ofthe best in its class. Collision Prevention Assist is a standard feature onthe M-Class, asis Attention Assist, which can warn youif it thinks you’re too drowsy. Add the optional Pre- Safe Brake feature that’s part ofthe Driver Assistance Package, andyouaddeven more accident-prevention odds improvement. With it, the M-Class earns a ‘Superior’ rating.
By the way, there’s change in store for this model line, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of safety. Lookfor the upcoming 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class to continue the M-Class formfactor (andits underpinnings), albeit with new badging, a refreshed cabin and other enhancements.