The IIHS said last week that the 2018 Kia Niro is among the safest cars it has tested, at least when equipped with optional active-safety gear and headlights. The insurance industry-funded crash-testers found that the Niro and Niro Plug-In Hybrid both have a strong safety structure and they hold...Read More»
All it took was a revised headlight design to earn the 2019 Mini Cooper two-door Top Safety Pick accolades from the IIHS after the 2018 model missed out on the award, the insurance industry-funded safety group said Monday. Not every 2019 Cooper earns the award. Buyers will need to pay extra for...Read More»
Two of the most popular crossover SUVs for families don't provide nearly the same protection for front-seat passengers as they do for drivers, the IIHS said Tuesday. In its demanding passenger-side small-overlap crash test, the IIHS bestowed "Poor" ratings on the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2018...Read More»
General Motors made an uncommon running update to its popular 2018 GMC Terrain and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox crossovers to bolster side-impact crash safety last year. The update, which consumers won't be able to spot by looking at the crossovers' exteriors, was applied to 2018 GMC Terrains built after...Read More»
Though it hasn't yet been subjected to instrumented crash-testing, the Tesla Model 3 has aced its first safety assessment. On Tuesday, the IIHS said that it gave the Model 3 electric car its highest rating of "Superior" in its front crash prevention tests and an “Acceptable” rating for...Read More»
Keyless ignition systems that use start buttons to let drivers to leave key fobs in their pockets provide a lot of convenience, but a new report sheds light on a failed government effort to prevent users from accidentally leaving their cars on. The New York Times reported Sunday that at least 20...Read More»
At the proverbial eleventh hour, the budget-friendly 2018 Nissan Versa has gained $200 worth of additional safety and convenience gear: a rearview camera paired to a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a USB input. That additional equipment adds $100 to $200 to the Versa's base price...Read More»
The federal government is pleading with 2006 model year Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup owners to park their trucks unless they've had their faulty Takata airbags replaced. “I cannot stress strongly enough the urgency of this recall—these airbags are dangerous,” NHTSA deputy...Read More»
Future Volvos—both passenger cars and semi trucks—will soon be able to communicate with one another about road hazards with a new cloud-based service called Connected Safety. Although Volvo Cars and Volvo Trucks are two separate companies, the two Swedish firms said Monday that they are...Read More»
Auto insurance companies are less apt to penalize drivers financially for texting while driving than many other moving violations, a new study shows. Auto insurance quote comparison site Zebra found that the average insurance premium rate hike applied to a driver who received a ticket for...Read More»
We hate to admit it, but it’s true: Sometimes, driving is boring. Whether it’s starting at a stagnant cesspool of cars on the 405, or pencil-straight interstates that never end in Wyoming, there’s just no getting around the boredom that long drives can present. Humanity may never...Read More»
Rust cuts deep—literally, according to a new study conducted in Sweden. Cars that show merely superficial rust may be considerably more dangerous in the event of a crash. The insurance company Folksam and the homeowner organization Villaägarnas Riksförbund of Sweden performed crash...Read More»
There's almost always a caveat when it comes to car safety, and the 2018 Lexus RC is no exception. RC models fitted with standard LED projector headlights earn a "Good" rating for how well those units point the way forward in the IIHS' testing. That's enough to merit Lexus' coupe a coveted Top...Read More»
A recent study of over 6 million text messaging sessions reaffirms what traffic safety advocates have long espoused: drivers are definitely using their phones behind the wheel and they're doing it when traffic is at its peak. Drivemode, a safe driving app, determined from its data that morning rush...Read More»
The 2018 BMW X3 holds up well in crash tests, the IIHS said Tuesday when it awarded certain versions of the compact crossover SUV its Top Safety Pick+ award. Not every 2018 X3 sitting on a dealer's lot qualifies for the IIHS' top award, but all feature a strong body structure that performed well in...Read More»
Hyundai and data analytics provider Verisk have teamed up in an effort to lower car insurance premiums, the two announced Wednesday. The program, which will require drivers to consent to being monitored while they drive, will send Verisk driving behavior information compiled from Hyundai’s...Read More»
The 2018 Ford Escape protects its driver fairly well in a crash, the IIHS revealed Wednesday. For a front-seat passenger? Not so much. The IIHS' latest crash evaluations reveal a big difference in the way some compact crossover SUVs protect front seat passengers. In a passenger-side small-overlap...Read More»
Nissan has quietly rolled out automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors as standard equipment on all 2018 Rogue Sport crossover SUVs. The safety tech was previously optional. Evidence of the change was uncovered in order guides by CarsDirect, which reports that Nissan markets the updated...Read More»
After adopting some mid-year changes, the 2018 Kia Optima earned top marks in independent crash-testing last week. The Optima previously earned the Top Safety Pick Award but now qualifies for the more challenging Top Safety Pick+ after Kia made some changes to improve the mid-size sedan's...Read More»
