Safest small car?

stockhausen

stockhausen

stockhausen

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On the face of it, a simple question:

What is the safest small (i.e. mostly for town driving) car?
Any suggestions a to where I can find a site showing the results of safety tests?

I am not interested in lightning acceleration or a high top speed, I am interested in safety and to a slightly lesser extent, economy - safety is my GREATEST concern..

Yesterday, three young lads were killed in a car crash at the end of my road.
Six months ago, the two best friends of the daughter of a very long-time friend of mine were killed in a car crash - they were both 17.

I have three sons, one has passed his test, one is about to take it soon and the third will start learning to drive before too long. No matter how much you tell them to drive slowly and carefully, you do worry.


Any recommendations?
 
Even the safest car you can buy still won't protect your loved ones if they drive like a prize idiot.

If anything, young drivers would probably be more likely to take a risk BECAUSE they know it's a "safe car", and that they're shielded from their bad actions by the safety aspects of the car.

RIP to those who were killed that you know.
 
The problem with the NCAP tests is that they're mostly tested against other smaller cars, so a 5* small car is still going to fair worst against a 4* larger car.

If safety is your greatest concern, my view would be that more driver training would be better than a "5* NCAP" car. Have a look at some of the driver traning on offer from the IAM and ROSPA.
 
Small cars are rarely amazingly safe in big accidents, even 5 NCAP 5 star ones. NCAP only tests cars against an object in similar size to the car - so a 5 star supermini is only a 5 star supermini if it hits another supermini.
 
[TW]Fox;11696572 said:
Small cars are rarely amazingly safe in big accidents, even 5 NCAP 5 star ones. NCAP only tests cars against an object in similar size to the car - so a 5 star supermini is only a 5 star supermini if it hits another supermini.
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Agreed.
Having said that, did you see the 5th gear review when they crashed a new Clio into an old Volvo 700 series. I was quite astounded that the passengers in the Clio would have fared better than those in the Volvo.
That suggests to me that it's still worth looking at if that's the priority.

I'm also in agreement with the earlier comment that driver education is far more useful than just a safe car. Learn to drive well and don't get involved in the accident in the first place.
 
Confused said:
If anything, young drivers would probably be more likely to take a risk BECAUSE they know it's a "safe car", and that they're shielded from their bad actions by the safety aspects of the car.
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I disagree with this. When I was 17, i'm sure I would have driven just the same if I had a fiat 500, instead of my gran's saxo. The only thing that would make a difference would be engine size.

Confused said:
Even the safest car you can buy still won't protect your loved ones if they drive like a prize idiot.
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Totally agree with this though. :)
 
Thanks for all that, particularly the NCAP link - which I should have found for myself :o

I take the various points that size, weight and lots of metal contributes quite a bit to safety, fair comment.

I also 100% agree with driver training and I have already looked into that. Sadly, it is active rather than passive - I can provide them with a safe car, I can't make them drive safely (i.e. NOT like a prize idiot) :(

Having looked at the NCAP site and taking into account local dealerships, I am leaning towards the Toyota Yaris TR, 5 Door Hatchback, 1.0 VVT-i Petrol, Manual.
 
stockhausen said:
Thanks for all that, particularly the NCAP link - which I should have found for myself :o

I take the various points that size, weight and lots of metal contributes quite a bit to safety, fair comment.

I also 100% agree with driver training and I have already looked into that. Sadly, it is active rather than passive - I can provide them with a safe car, I can't make them drive safely (i.e. NOT like a prize idiot) :(

Having looked at the NCAP site and taking into account local dealerships, I am leaning towards the Toyota Yaris TR, 5 Door Hatchback, 1.0 VVT-i Petrol, Manual.
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If you're concerned about them driving irresponsibly, a 'Safe' car isn't going to help. You could argue that they're only safe against other road users, not the driver themselves.

That said, a modern larger class car (Focus/Astra/Golf) would fair as well if not better in an accident most of the time than something Yaris sized.

The IAM/ROSPA courses tend to train drivers to be better by improving their observation skills and approach to driving. I beleive the Police run courses offered to speeding offenders that try to 'shock' people to not drive like an idiot.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Agreed.
Having said that, did you see the 5th gear review when they crashed a new Clio into an old Volvo 700 series. I was quite astounded that the passengers in the Clio would have fared better than those in the Volvo.
That suggests to me that it's still worth looking at if that's the priority.

I'm also in agreement with the earlier comment that driver education is far more useful than just a safe car. Learn to drive well and don't get involved in the accident in the first place.
Click to expand...
Weight has a lot to do with it and a new Clio weighs probably about the same as an old Volvo. Put the Volvo against a small hatch like back in the day (Saxo for example) and it would demolish it.
 
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW):
GL/GLE 3965 lbs. 1800 kg
Turbo 4010 lbs. 1820 kg

Kerb Weight 1372kg

Modus - 1185kg

Not that far off then, shocker!
 
[TW]Fox;11696683 said:
What a nasty car indeed - I'd personally go for something like a Focus 1.6.
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which is nothing what the OP is looking for? :confused:
the OP wants a safe supermini, and you recommend an average small family car..

and as for that volvo/modus
i don't think weight is that important..
i mean it's rated 5 stars for a reason

my parents were involved in a head-on collision with a new-shape astra in a merc c-class, both of which are rated 5 stars
all 3 (unfortunately the other guy too) have made a full recovery..
safe cars make a massive difference
 
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Jonny69 said:
Weight has a lot to do with it and a new Clio weighs probably about the same as an old Volvo
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Really?! My parents have had Volvos over the years and they old ones they had (ie. 740 and before that) were literally tanks that plowed through anything.
 
mjt said:
safe cars make a massive difference
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Agreed. But your parents were in a largeish Mercedes - who regard safety in cars as the highest priority. If your parents had been in a clio or like, i fear the aftermath wouldn't have been good.
 
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chrislusty said:
The Clios do very well in the ncamp ratings, along with the rest of the renault range.
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The new one (like my 197) has a 5 star ncap safety rating (as is plastered in a big sticker in the rear window), however as already pointed out this is only comparable to other cars in its catagory (would the new clio still class as a supermini?!)

The 5th gear test (which showed a modus hitting a volvo not a clio) does go some way to show that a new 'supermini' or small car thanks to its saftey features can do ok against a older larger car however against a new volvo for example things wouldn't be too rosy.
 
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