When you’re looking to ensure safety while choosing a vehicle, resources like Car and Driver become invaluable for comparing different models. A key metric in vehicle safety assessment is the Overall Vehicle Score, often represented by a star rating. This score, provided by safety administrations, is meticulously calculated to give consumers a snapshot of a vehicle’s safety performance in crash tests. It takes into account frontal and side impact ratings, and even factors in rollover resistance to produce a comprehensive safety assessment.
The star ratings are designed to be easily understandable, allowing you to quickly gauge the injury risk associated with a vehicle relative to the average across the entire vehicle fleet. A five-star rating (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) indicates that the vehicle offers “much less than average” overall injury risk, positioning it as one of the safest in its category. Conversely, a one-star rating (⭐) suggests a “much greater than average” injury risk. Ratings in between provide a spectrum from “less than average to average” (⭐⭐⭐⭐) down to “greater than average” (⭐⭐).
However, when you use resources like Car and Driver to compare vehicles based on these Overall Vehicle Scores, it’s crucial to understand the comparison guidelines. A direct comparison is only valid between vehicles that are in the same vehicle class and have a weight difference of no more than 250 pounds. For instance, you cannot directly compare the safety rating of a heavy 4,500-pound SUV to a lighter 3,000-pound sedan. Similarly, comparing a 3,600-pound pickup truck to a 3,400-pound van is not permissible due to the difference in vehicle class, even though they meet the weight criteria.
Valid comparisons, for example, would be between a 3,400-pound passenger car and another passenger car weighing 3,650 pounds. Both vehicles are in the same class and fall within the acceptable weight range, making their Overall Vehicle Scores directly comparable. These rules ensure that you’re making meaningful comparisons, as vehicle size and weight are significant factors in crash safety. Therefore, when utilizing resources like Car and Driver to compare vehicles, always consider these crucial guidelines to accurately assess and compare vehicle safety ratings.
