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You can easily locate the best small cars with reasonable base prices and excellent safety ratings. There are several small cars that receive excellent safety ratings from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What to Look for in the Best Small Cars
The best small cars that offer the greatest safety to drivers and passengers are equipped with the latest technologies. You will find that the best small cars for safety are often equipped with front and side airbags, head airbags, and advanced airbag systems as well as passenger restraints. The best small cars are also equipped with anti-theft devices so that the car can remain protected when the vehicle is not in use.
Many of the best small cars have electronic stability control. This type of feature is one that improves the safety level of the vehicle tremendously. Electronic stability control is a special system which purposefully monitors a vehicle’s handling: special sensors are used to track the speed in which the tires move, the position of the steering wheel, and the vehicle’s acceleration. If a driver should lose control of the vehicle, the system makes attempts to prevent the loss of control. A car with this feature makes it the best small car to drive in snow since the driver has better control over the vehicle’s handling and performance.
Many of the best small cars are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems too. Tire pressure monitoring is another feature which helps the driver keep better control over the vehicle while it is on the highway. Any changes in the pressure of the tires are revealed through the vehicle’s dashboard so that pressure changes can be rectified. This ensures greater balance of the vehicle and it also ensures the longevity of the vehicle’s tires.
Best Small Cars and Safety Ratings
2009 Subaru Impreza
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety the 2009 Subaru Impreza is definitely among the list of the best small cars in terms of safety. The Impreza is offered at an initial, base price of $19,995, and it can achieve 0 to 60 in 8.2 seconds so it has plenty of power under the hood. In terms of safety features the Impreza has side airbags, dual front airbags, head airbags, and front and rear airbags. This car is equipped with brake assist, traction control, stability control, and tire pressure monitors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Impreza a five star rating on crash tests performed on the driver and passenger front and side impact tests, a four star rating on the rear crash test, and a four star rating on rollover resistance. For more information on crash testing and safety ratings associated with the Impreza visit:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=349.
2008 and 2009 Ford Focus
Per the testing conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, the 2008 and 2009 Ford Focus is also an excellent vehicle when it comes to small car safety. This car makes it on the list of the best small cars because it has standard side airbags, standard dual front airbags, head airbags, and rear airbags. Electronic brakes and traction control features are optional but can be added if desired. The base vehicle is also equipped with tire pressure monitoring. The NHTSA gives the 2008 and 2009 Ford Focus five stars for the crash test driver side and passenger side testing, and three stars for the side rear and side front crash testing. Rollover resistance receives 4 stars from NHTSA. A nicely priced vehicle, you can get the base version for $16,570.00. This vehicle can achieve 0 to 60 in roughly 9.7 seconds too. For more information on crash testing and safety ratings associated with the Focus visit:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=663.
2010 Kia Soul
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2010 Kia Soul is a car that can be listed among the best small cars. This car can be defined as a best small car in terms of safety since the 2010 Kia Soul has front airbags, side airbags, head airbags, rear airbags, anti-locking brakes, and electronic brake force distributing. The IIHS gives a good rating on the frontal offset tests, and side impact testing of the Kia Soul, and the car has good seat and head restraint geometry. This vehicle can achieve 0 to 60 in 8.8 seconds and the base price of the vehicle is $16,950.00. For more information about the Kia Soul and safety testing at:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=673.
2009 Toyota Corolla
Another “best small car” is the Toyota Corolla. This car is the best small car for driving in snow and it is also one of the best small car Canada offerings. The Corolla has a base price of $17,650.00 and the car can achieve 0 to 60 in just over 10 seconds. The Corolla has front airbags, side airbags, and head airbags. This car is also equipped with anti-locking brakes, brake assist, and electronic brake force distribution. The vehicle has optional stability control and traction control. The IIHS reveals good test results on the frontal offset crash testing of the Corolla, and good side impact results. The Corolla has excellent seat and head restraint geometry as well. For more information on the Toyota Corolla visit:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/head_restraints/headrestraints.aspx?toyota.
2009 Honda Civic
The 2009 Honda Civic is the best small car because it has plenty of safety elements. This vehicle is equipped with side airbags, standard dual front airbags, head airbags, and rear airbags, and four wheel anti-locking brakes. The Civic is also equipped braking assist control, stability control, brake force distribution, and tire pressure monitoring. The Civic has a base price of $26,850.00 and it can achieve 0 to 60 in 13.5 seconds. The NHTSA gives this car a five star safety rating on the driver side and passenger side tests; a four star rating on the side front crash test, and a five star rating on the side rear crash test. Rollover resistance testing is given a 4 star rating by the NHTSA. For more information on the Honda civic visit:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=666.
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