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The 9 most unsafe cars on the market. A matter of family safety

The most unsafe cars on the market drive around the city carrying thousands of lives. Buying a car is no longer just about convenience, but family safety.

most unsafe cars
most unsafe cars · Photo: Vida en Yucatán

The most unsafe cars on the market drive around the city carrying thousands of lives. Buying a car is no longer just about convenience, but family safety.

In recent decades, thanks to improvements in car safety standards, driving deaths have dropped. However, some of the most unsafe cars that big automakers have put on the market are still on the road.

Today’s cars are relatively safe, thanks in part to ever-stricter regulations, as well as technological improvements such as collision prevention, anti-lock brakes, smart airbags and adaptive headlights.

Nonetheless, the most unsafe cars, according to various assessments, tend to be the cheapest and most accessible to the public. Below, we tell you which they are so you can take family-safety measures and improve your quality of life if you’re considering buying a car.

A list of the 9 most unsafe cars

  1. Chevrolet Spark. Although the Spark improved enormously in the newer 2016–2018 models, earlier versions had structural and safety problems that compromised the quality of life and handling of their users.

  2. Nissan Sentra. This car, model 2013–2014, is one of the most dangerous cars on the road. Getting into one of these cars can severely worsen your quality of life.

  3. Nissan Titan Crew Cab. Studies have shown this truck doesn’t provide safety for the family. The 2011–2014 model, for example, shows little roof strength.

  4. Kia Soul. Although Kia made safety improvements to the Soul from 2014, the early models failed various crash tests due to front-overlap failures.

  5. Ford Fiesta Sedan. This car also showed serious weaknesses in front-overlap crash tests. So it’s not an option for guaranteeing family safety.

  6. Dodge Challenger. This car has never performed well in crash tests since its 2008 launch. The 2015 model also received a lower rating, according to various studies, in terms of structure.

  7. Nissan Versa. This vehicle has a serious design flaw in front-overlap protection. During various tests, it was shown that the way the airbag deploys leaves the head vulnerable to contact with a front structure.

  8. Kia Rio Sedan. In 2015, according to various research, the Kia Rio took first place among unsafe cars, with a driver death rate of 149 per million registered. However, when the 2017 numbers came out, Kia had greatly improved the Rio’s safety.

  9. Hyundai Accent Sedan. While the Accent Sedan improved in the 2018–2019 models, older versions were consistently rated poor. The driver’s space was seriously compromised, with the possibility of injuries to the hip and left knee and lower leg, depending on the severity of the crash. Crash-test dummies also show a risk of head injury. The Accent Sedan’s death rate is the highest among all unsafe cars.

6 keys to buying a safe car

  1. When you buy a car, price may be the top priority; however, you should keep in mind the vehicle’s history and rating, which can help you and your family stay safe.

  2. Avoid unsafe cars, even if you’re an experienced driver.

  3. Research recent crash-test scores. These assessments give a good idea of how well cars would hold up in a real accident.

  4. Make sure the car has airbags as well as seatbelts.

  5. Inspect the car thoroughly before buying it.

  6. Avoid buying very small or light vehicles. In any crash, a very small or light car is at a disadvantage. These vehicles don’t offer passengers the same protection as a larger, heavier vehicle. Choose standard-size cars instead.

Buying a car, buying a house or any property is a decision to be made while properly informed. The most unsafe cars are one of many topics we still don’t know about and that are part of our everyday life.

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