When purchasing or leasing a vehicle, its safety rating is an important factor to consider to make an informed choice.
A safety rating is an assessment of the safety of a vehicle that has been subject to standardized tests.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is the reference.
The IIHS is a scientific organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage caused by crashes on U.S. roads. The data it collects can also be used in Canada, because vehicles in both countries are very similar.
On the IIHS Web site, you will find for each vehicle:
To determine how well a vehicle protects its occupants in the event of a crash, the IIHS assigns the vehicle an overall rating based on its performance in various tests:
|
Good |
|
Acceptable |
|
Marginal |
|
Poor |
Vehicles are rated based on both their performance in track tests and the technology used to prevent crashes or lessen their severity.