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3 cars that lead the pack for safety in 2015

7 January 2015

If you're in the market for a new vehicle, safety is probably a top consideration. While adequate vehicle insurance can help mitigate the consequences of an unforeseen incident, you'll also want to make sure your automobile has measures in place to keep you and your passengers as safe as possible on the road.

Which cars lead the pack? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released its top safety picks for 2015, based on vehicle tests the organisation conducted to assess "crashworthiness".

Although the organisation's standards have gotten tougher for the highest title (TOP SAFETY PICK ), many brands have risen to the occasion - a positive sign for road safety. In fact, 71 cars earned distinction in this year's list, with 33 earning the top-level designation that also requires crash prevention capability such as antibrake.

Cars by Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and Volvo made the list, among others. Here are three of the leaders the IIHS called out for making marked improvements:

  1. Honda CR-V - noted for modifications that enhanced structural protection
  2. Toyota Prius v - longer side curtain airbags and structural adjustments led to strong performance
  3. Mercedes-Benz M-Class - includes standard warning systems for crash prevention

The IIHS looks at criteria you might also want to keep in mind when selecting your next ride. In particular, cars need to have strong roofs and sides, score well in terms of head restraints and receive good ratings in front overlap. In addition, vehicles that facilitate crash prevention are good picks for safety.

The Institute noted that it's worth considering vehicle size and weight when gauging automobiles for safety. That's because bigger, heavier cars tend to offer more protection than their smaller counterparts, the IIHS explained.

Whether you're purchasing a new car or holding on to the one you have, a comprehensive approach to safety includes both choosing the right model and making sure you're insured in the event something does occur. Elders Insurance can offer you a range of motor vehicle cover options to address liability, theft, damage and more, with policies tailored to your needs within your overall personal insurance policy.

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