Safest cars you can drive
In the early days, how a car looked determined how successful it would be in the car market, this isn't the case anymore as safety has become an important criteria when purchasing a new car.
These days safety is a very important aspect when looking for a new car. This is part of the reason why manufacturers invest heavily to make their cars safer. The best way for a vehicle to prove its safety credentials is to undergo crash tests conducted by third party organisations.
Points are awarded based on how well they do in individual tests such as frontal impact, side impact, whiplash and so on. The results are added up to give an overall safety rating in the form of stars; the higher the number of stars, the safer the vehicle. This safety rating is composed of scores in four areas: adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist.
While we understand Malaysia uses the ASEAN NCAP safety rating, we have based our cars on the EURO NCAP rating as it has an extensive list of vehicles that have been crash tested. The vehicles that were used are available in Europe and though we get the same models, features and specifications maybe a little different and in an event of crash may behave differently. The results below are based on crash tests conducted in 2012.
Volvo V40
Rating: 5 Stars
Adult Occupant – 98%
Child Occupant – 75%
Pedestrian protection – 88%
Safety Assist – 100%
There is no doubt that Volvo makes some of the safest cars in the world and the V40 is a testament to that. Over here in Malaysia, the V40 comes in two variants, the T4 and T5. The T4 is powered by a turbocharged 180bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine while the T5 comes with a 213bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre five-cylinder powerplant. Both variants offer very good performance and can be considered hot hatches. Though the V40 may not be able to achieve all it can with the charisma of a Golf GTi but its still a darn good car.
BMW 3-Series
Rating: 5 Stars
Adult Occupant – 95%
Child Occupant – 84%
Pedestrian protection – 78%
Safety Assist – 86%
BMW likes to say that every car that it makes is the “Ultimate Driving Machine”. While that may not be true for every model, it is for the 3-Series. The driving dynamics of the 3-series make it one of the best handling cars in its class. Though Audi and Mercedes-Benz make good cars, the 3-Series is in an entirely different league. With the introduction of the 316i, BMW has made the car relatively affordable but unlike its siblings, it’s lacking in the power department.
Mazda 6
Rating: 5 Stars
Adult Occupant – 92%
Child Occupant – 77%
Pedestrian protection – 66%
Safety Assist – 81%
The new 6 was designed using Mazda’s Kodo design philosophy, which is why it looks stunning. Not only does the Mazda 6 look more expensive than it really is, but also makes German offerings look outdated. Incorporating Skyactiv technology, the car is made to be as efficient as possible. Available with either a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre engine, the Mazda 6 comes loaded with technology. If power is what you want, opt for the 2.5-litre variant as the smaller displacement unit offers far less driving pleasure.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Rating: 5 Stars
Adult Occupant – 96%
Child Occupant – 89%
Pedestrian protection – 71%
Safety Assist – 86%
The new Santa Fe is a very good-looking SUV by anyone’s standards. If you fancy one, the car comes with either a 2.4-litre MPI engine or a 2.2-litre CRDi one. While it may not offer the same driving experience as a BMW X3, it is a very good all-rounder and one is definitely good value. Unlike previous generation Santa Fe vehicles, the new one offers very good levels of refinement, safety and ride quality. This means that Hyundai is no longer a sub-par automaker and the vehicles it offers are light-years better than they were a decade ago.
Ford Kuga
Rating: 5 Stars
Adult Occupant – 94%
Child Occupant – 86%
Pedestrian protection – 70%
Safety Assist – 100%
Built on the Ford Focus platform, Ford’s new compact SUV is one of the most advanced vehicles in its class. It’s equipped with a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine, which delivers 178bhp and 240Nm of torque. For a vehicle of size, the powerplant churns out more than enough power to give the Kuga better acceleration figures than a number of nimble cars. Despite its size, the interior’s sitting position seems a little cramped especially for taller people. If space is what your after then the Honda CR-V would suit you better but besides space, there is very little wrong with the Kuga.
