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Safety and reliability

98 articles · Page 1

This section collects everything the site publishes on how safe and how dependable a car actually is. Articles explain how crash test ratings are produced, where NHTSA and IIHS methods differ, and why a five-star score does not always translate into real-world protection. Alongside safety, the section covers reliability rankings, dependability data, breakdown statistics and the running costs that follow from them. Buyer-facing guides compare family cars, SUVs, used models and affordable options for new and teenage drivers, and look at how marketing claims are built on top of test scores. Common safety myths are examined against the underlying test data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings?

NHTSA and IIHS are two separate organisations that crash test vehicles using their own procedures and scoring systems. Because the tests and criteria differ, the same car can score differently in each programme. Reading both sets of results gives a fuller picture than relying on a single score.

Does a five-star safety rating mean a car is safe in every crash?

A top overall score reflects performance in a defined set of test scenarios, not every possible collision. Impacts at different angles, speeds or against larger vehicles may fall outside what was tested. Looking at the individual test categories behind the overall score is more informative than the headline number.

How are car reliability ratings calculated?

Reliability ratings are generally built from reported problems and repairs over a period of ownership, gathered from owner surveys and service data. Because sample sizes, model years and the types of faults counted vary between sources, rankings can disagree. Breakdown statistics and repair cost data help put a single rating in context.