Yahoo News Top 10 safest cars revealed
The top 10 safest cars have been named by Thatcham Research; those which, as well as extensive occupant protection, also provide as standard the latest technological developments in crash avoidance, detecting vulnerable road users and stimulating drivers who appear unresponsive.
Thatcham Research, the UK’s only “not for profit” insurer-funded research centre, has been a member of the industry-standard European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) crash-testing programme since 2004.
The 10 cars listed below - all current production models - have all been shortlisted for the What Car? safety award for 2018.
What can we expect from these cars?
With a focus on reducing accidents, judges are looking for pioneering technological features that reduce collision impact and detect those road users at greater risk of injury. Desired features include essential Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems, as well as the more recently developed Lane Keep Assist systems. These feature in all 10 of Thatcham's safest cars, and remain effective in preventing one of the most common motoring accidents by steering cars away from road edges and lane markings.
With pedestrians and cyclists accounting for 30% of all road-related injuries, this year's award focuses on the detection of vulnerable road users. Developments in technology have created specific Cyclist AEB, a system that advances traditional AEB in its ability to detect fast-moving cyclists.
Other innovations include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) which ensures a safe distance is maintained between vehicles through the use of cameras, radar or lidar, as well as Driver Monitoring systems that detects and warns drivers if they appear unresponsive within a sustained time frame.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert will also be a factor; it aims to reduce the 92 injuries caused by reversing cars in 2016.
Which cars have made the cut?
Honda, Vauxhall, Toyota and Mercedes have all secured one of their vehicles on Thatcham's top 10, while Subaru, Volvo and Volkswagen each have two of their cars in the final shortlist. The overall winner will be one of the following:
The latest, 10th generation of the Civic family hatchback has safety features including AEB and Lane Departure Warnings, and as well as Land Adaptive Cruise Control and six airbags.
The classy new pick-up features Active Brake Assist, Adaptive Brake Lights and Lane Keeping Assist, as well as an Electronic Stability Program that stabilises the vehicle by applying brakes to individual wheels if the system detects that a skid is imminent.
The latest version of the family hatchback presents Subaru's innovative EyeSight technology that warns drivers of potential hazards, as well as Rear Vehicle Detection and High Beam Assist.
This SUV/crossover has safety features that include a Vehicle Dynamics Control system that reduces the risk of over- or under-steer, as well as a Thatcham Category 1 alarm system and immobiliser.
The distinctive SUV includes a variety of safety-sense systems, including Lane Departure Alert, Pre-Collision System (with Pedestrian Control) and Road Sign Assist as standard.
The saloon and estate include Vauxhall's Heads-Up technology that projects drivers' speed and navigational directions on to the windscreen to prevent the driver having to look down at the dashboard while driving. Features also include driver alerts to warn of detected road signs, as well as Lane Departure to ensure the car stays in lane.
The large saloon and estate from Sweden feature Pilot Assist, introducing semi-autonomous driving by allowing drivers to regulate speed and direction through a combination of automatic acceleration, braking and steering. The system also prevents lane drifting.
This mid-size SUV features include City Safety, which helps the driver avoid low-speed collisions in slow-moving, stop-start traffic, as well as a system that gives drivers gentle steering inputs to ensure the car stays in lane.
Area View, Lane Assist and Park Assist are among the VW Arteon saloon's multiple safety features, as well as XDS that delivers responsive and agile steering.
The T-Roc includes Lane and Park Assist, Blind Spot Sensor and alert systems that warn of vulnerable road users.
What do the experts think?
Upholding its vision of 'Safer cars, fewer crashes', Thatcham Research has created a list that seeks to advise motorists on the safest vehicles available, encouraging them to expect only the best when it comes to safe technology.
Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham, said: "This award is about celebrating those car-makers which continue to push the boundaries of safety, going above and beyond even the exacting levels that a five-star Euro NCAP rating demands.
"There’s a feeling among the public that all new cars are safe now. This award shows that while most cars are safe there are differences, especially in terms of technology. The ADAS [driver assist] technology we are judging the cars on is going to make the difference between having a crash and not.
"With six per cent of A-road crashes involving head-on collisions, this should be the next life-saving technology fitted by car-makers who want to signal their intent to prioritise driver safety."
Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: "It's great to see that big advances have been made in safety technology in 2017. Consumers can be confident that they're buying the safest possible new car if they pick one from the top 10."
When will the winner be revealed?
Thatcham will announce the winner on January 23, 2018.
For more information about Thatcham's top ten and safety technology, visit their website.
For tips and advice, visit our Advice section, or sign up to our newsletter here
