Safety is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a brand new car. You’re making a significant investment, after all. You should be confident that the vehicle you’re buying at full price can keep you safe on the road for years to come.
Some vehicles are simply safer than others, whether that’s because of their built-in safety features or their general construction quality. Keep reading to discover the three safest car models to buy in 2022 and the two that you should avoid based on their histories of producing lemons.
The Three Safest Cars for 2022
When it comes to safety, three manufacturers take the cake. Honda, Hyundai, and Subaru are known for creating safe and reliable vehicles, and 2022 is no exception. If you’re looking for the safest cars for this year, you can look at makes and models such as:
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has been around since 1976, and the manufacturer has refined the model into one of the safest cars on the market. The current design of the Accord is regularly reviewed as one of the best midsize cars on the market. It offers a powerful engine and smooth ride in addition to in-depth safety features, including collision detection and avoidance systems and lane-keeping assist.
The 2022 Honda Accord has perfect five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which monitors how safe cars are for drivers and passengers in frontal, side, and rollover crashes. It also has excellent ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent and nonprofit organization dedicated to monitoring the safety of cars. Drivers can trust that the Accord is built to keep them as safe as possible.
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
If you’re looking for a safe subcompact SUV, the Subaru Crosstrek is one of the best on the market. It comes with a standard all-wheel drive helpful for staying on the road even under challenging conditions. It also has a spacious interior and smooth ride that will keep you comfortable on the road. The Crosstrek comes with safety features like blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and lane-centering to keep your drive uneventful.
The NHTSA and IIHS agree that the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is a reliable and safe choice for your next car. The IIHS gave the model good ratings across the board for everything it tested. Meanwhile, the NHTSA gave it five stars for side crashes, four stars for frontal and rollover collisions, and five stars overall, indicating that the administration considers it an excellent choice.
Hyundai Palisade
Moving up to the next size class, the Hyundai Palisade is the go-to choice for safety in mid- to large-size SUVs. It’s got all the room you could need to carry both people and cargo, and it’s well-known for providing comfortable rides with its powerful engine. The Palisade is also equipped with safety features, including lane-keeping features, four-wheel ABS, blind-spot monitoring, and integrated turn signal mirrors.
The IIHS loves the 2022 Hyundai Palisade, giving it good or superior scores across the board. Meanwhile, the NHTSA gives it four stars for rollover crashes and five stars for everything else overall. Combined with the size of the SUV, no car is more trustworthy for transporting the people you love most in your day-to-day lives.
The Two Worst Cars for 2022
Of course, there are awful cars, just like there are excellent ones. Looking back at past years is usually a good way to tell if a make and model will likely be reliable. You should consider steering clear of brand new versions of these two models if you’re looking to buy a new vehicle this year.
Chevy Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado has a long history of causing problems for drivers. In the past ten years alone, Silverados have been recalled for everything from engine block heaters that caused fires to malfunctioning warning lights that failed to inform people about dangerous issues with the brakes and ABS. As recently as 2021, Silverados were recalled for seatbelts that wouldn’t correctly secure riders in an accident. For that reason, Consumer Reports rated the 2021 Chevy Silverado just 13/100 for reliability.
The overall safety of the most recent Chevy Silverado models is questionable, too. The IIHS rated it “marginal” in terms of glancing crashes and considered its headlights “poor.” The NHTSA gives it a four-star rating, subtracting points for injuries drivers may face in head-on and rollover crashes. If you’re looking for a safe and reliable truck, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Jeep Compass
When it comes to compact SUVs, steer clear of the Jeep Compass. It’s seen 19 NHTSA safety recalls for problems with its brakes, electrical systems, airbags, and fire risks. That’s why Consumer Reports gave the Jeep Compass a 21/100 for reliability.
Ratings are hard to find for the 2022 Jeep Compass. The IIHS hasn’t even rated the Compass, so there’s no available data from that group. Meanwhile, the NHTSA hasn’t granted it overall, front crash, or side crash ratings and only gave it three stars for rollover crashes. There are many other similarly sized SUVs on the market; choose one of those instead of an unreliable Jeep.
Don’t Risk a Dangerous New Car
You’re making a significant investment when you buy a brand new car. Make sure you do your research before purchasing any new vehicle to make sure it meets your safety standards. By sticking with brands known for reliability like Honda and Hyundai, you can minimize your risk of winding up with a vehicle that’s unsafe to drive.
Still, any new car can be a lemon. If your vehicle is still under warranty and already showing signs of dangerous problems, you can and should hold the manufacturer accountable. Under California law, you can have manufacturers repair, replace, or even refund your car if it’s a lemon. Get in touch with the experienced lemon law attorneys at Johnson & Buxton to discuss your situation and find out if you can get your new car fixed for good.
