People are spending more and more time in their vehicles than ever before, and they are also doing more in their cars than ever. Anyone in the market for a new vehicle wants all the bells and whistles to make their commute better, faster, and smoother. They also want the utmost in safety.
 
Not too long ago, families used to car-share – they shared one vehicle for more than one driver, especially teens. However, with almost all teens attending some sort of college or trade school after high school, a vehicle for just about everyone in the household is more a necessity than a luxury.
 
When it comes to vehicle safety, systems for checks and balances in those systems are improving and therefore offering consumers better information to make wise choices. There are many safety features to seek when purchasing a new vehicle:
 

• Side bags
• Curtains
• Front airbags
• Head restraints
• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision warning
• Rear cameras

 
These are just a sampling of some of the safety features to seek, but which vehicles are the real stars when it comes to vehicle safety ratings.
 
2015 Ford Edge – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2015 Edge was able to take home top notch safety ratings in the areas of front crash tests and side crash tests, coming out with a five star rating. In the arena of rollover crash test, the 2015 Ford Edge came out with a four star rating. Just to name a few – the Ford Edge’s standard safety equipment offers features such as:
 

• Driver’s air bag
• Side air bag
• Rear head air bag
• Traction control
• Child safety locks
• Anti-lock brakes
• Rearview camera

 
Other options: blind-spot information system and rear cross-traffic alert.
 
Mazda3 – The Mazda 3 is an attractive car that offers fuel economy and the utmost of safety – probably the top three reasons to purchase a vehicle. In the arena of safety, Mazda 3 earned a five-star overall safety rating. It sailed through the frontal crash safety test, as well as the side crash safety test while receiving a four out of five on rollover tests. Standard safety equipment for Mazda3 include:
 

• Front air bags
• Front side
• Side airbag curtains
• Traction control
• 4 wheel ABS

 
Other options: Forward obstruction warning, lane departure warning system, forward obstruction warning.
 
2015 Chevy Sonic – If the base price doesn’t impress you or the 40 miles per gallon highway fuel efficiency doesn’t catch your attention, then the overall safety ratings should. With a perfect score – being five out of five stars – on its front and side crash tests and a four out of five on its rollover testing, you’ve ’got yourself a car that offers fuel efficiency, a modest base price, good looks and safety included in the mix. The Chevy Sonic might just be that perfect vehicle for your new teen driver and your wallet, as well. You can have peace of mind along with an economically beneficial vehicle from both its sticker price and gas mileage that also offers safety in spades.
 
Toyota Models – The Toyota Venza had an overall five-star safety rating with frontal crash tests and rollover tests reporting four out of five stars and side crash testing of five stars. The Toyota Corolla came in with a perfect score in both front and side crash tests and four out of five in the rollover test. Imagine a vehicle with eight standard airbags and an overall five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and you’ve got a best-selling vehicle that also happens to be at an affordable price.
 
Hyundai Models – The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and the Hyundai Elantra also earned impressive safety titles with the Santa Fe Sport receiving an overall five-star rating with five stars in both its frontal and side crash and four out of five stars for rollover, while the Elantra received five out of five on the side crash tests and four out of five for both the front and rollover tests. So, if you are a fan of the Hyundai models and safety is important to you, these models may peak your interest.
 
While you might expect some of the larger, heavier cars to rank so highly in the overall safety ratings, it’s nice to know for those of us who prefer to drive a smaller vehicle, there are safer options.
Whether you are buying a vehicle for yourself, your spouse or your new teen driver, suffice it to say that safety is your number one criteria. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration takes your vehicles safety seriously so you can too.