The Safest SUVs in 2022

The popularity of small SUVs is growing in the US. Such cars are great for both urban conditions and trips out of town with the whole family. But what are the safest SUVs, and how to choose the best one? We compared the crash test results from the most respected car safety agencies and made a list of the safest SUVs to buy used in Indiana.

• Infiniti QX60
• Nissan Pathfinder
• Subaru Ascent
• Volkswagen Atlas
• Buick Enclave
• Ford Explorer
• Chevrolet Traverse
• GMC Acadia
• Toyota Highlander
• Mazda CX-9
• Honda Pilot

The 2017 INFINITI QX60 premium crossover repeated the success of the previous generation and received the highest five-star rating in the NHTSA crash tests. The INFINITI QX60 has a wide range of advanced safety systems and driving assistance technologies. Collision Warning and Emergency Braking can intervene and bring the vehicle to an emergency stop if pedestrians are detected.

Other options, such as recognition of  moving objects, tracking lanes and dead zones, and intelligent cruise control significantly reduce the likelihood of a traffic incident.

The updated Nissan Pathfinder received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. The Pathfinder features cutting-edge safety technologies, including a new emergency brake assist, intelligent cruise control, moving object detection, and surround view systems.

Also on board, this Nissan  SUV has blind spot monitoring systems and warnings of other vehicles approaching from the side.

The Ascent scored top in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian interactions. This Subaru SUV has the prestigious “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS.

Ascent successfully passed all crash tests, including frontal collision with small overlap on the driver and passenger side, frontal impact without overlap, simulated side impact affecting the driver’s door and B-pillar, roof strength test in case of a rollover, and head restraint operation.

According to the crash test results, the Ford Explorer coped well with side and frontal impacts. The protection of other passengers in the cabin is provided at a high level.

However, in a partial overlap collision, the front of the Ford vehicle is deformed, creating a high risk of the driver’s left leg injury. Thus, the most unsafe place in such an accident is the driver’s seat.

Volkswagen’s largest SUV earned a “Good” rating in the five crash tests, including the most difficult small overlap collision. It also scored “Excellent” for its forward collision avoidance technology and did not receive the top mark from the IIHS only because of the headlights. The thing is that they produce too much bright light, which blinds drivers in the oncoming traffic.

The Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Mazda CX-9 have the same problem: none of them received the maximum scores for this reason.

It’s no secret that large SUVs have strong construction and protect passengers well. Larger vehicles are more resistant to skidding, less susceptible to rutting, and allow better judgment of road conditions due to their high seating position. In addition to dimensions, the car weight directly affects the safety. And if a small and a large car collide at the same speed, according to the law of conservation of momentum, more energy will be transferred to a small car due to less mass. Passengers will experience a strong impact, unlike those who were in a pickup truck or an SUV. A large car will get off with damage to the bumper and hood, and a small one will be crumpled like a cardboard box.

In addition to the size, center of gravity, and weight, other parameters affect the safety of the car, such as:

• Security tools. Airbags, blind spot assistants, lane-keeping systems, all-around cameras, and lidars that can keep the distance behind the car in front give you more confidence on the road.
• Body condition. A car with a modified body geometry after the impact will not be able to protect people in an accident as it should. Therefore, it is vital to check whether the car has had an accident before buying.
• Body type. Cars with a monocoque body protect people much better than frame cars. The frame is almost not wrinkled, and all the energy on impact is completely transferred to the vehicle, entailing injuries to people. A monocoque car is more pliable and works like a spring, smoothly absorbing the shock.
• Clearance. The higher the car, the more likely it is that the impact during the accident will fall on a hard threshold or side member. Due to this, the car interior will not experience such high deformations and thereby injure people less.

If you want to feel safe and protect your family on the road as much as possible, it is better to buy a car after a full-fledged test drive. Visit Indy Auto Man, and we will help you choose the safest and most reliable SUV from our inventory.