What's Happening?
Consumer Reports has launched a new safety rating system for vehicles, aiming to simplify the process of identifying the safest cars on the market. The new system categorizes vehicles into three ratings:
Basic, Better, and Best. This comprehensive evaluation considers handling, usability, and safety test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as well as the availability of proven safety technologies as standard equipment. The ratings are designed to ensure that consumers do not have to pay extra for essential safety features. The 'Best' rating requires vehicles to have standard highway-speed automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning (BSW), and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), among other criteria. Notably, some well-regarded brands like Volvo do not achieve the highest rating due to distracting controls that affect usability scores.
Why It's Important?
This new rating system by Consumer Reports is significant as it shifts the focus from traditional crash testing to a more holistic view of vehicle safety, which includes crash avoidance and usability. By emphasizing the importance of standard safety features, the system encourages manufacturers to prioritize these elements in all vehicle trims, potentially leading to safer roads. Consumers benefit by having a clearer understanding of which vehicles offer the best protection without additional costs. This could influence purchasing decisions and push automakers to integrate advanced safety technologies more broadly, ultimately enhancing overall vehicle safety standards.
What's Next?
As Consumer Reports continues to advocate for higher safety standards, automakers may respond by revising their vehicle designs and feature offerings to meet the 'Best' rating criteria. This could lead to increased competition among manufacturers to provide vehicles that not only perform well in crash tests but also offer superior usability and standard safety features. Additionally, regulatory bodies might consider these comprehensive safety evaluations when updating safety regulations, further aligning industry standards with consumer safety expectations.
