When you’re in the market for a used car, safety is paramount. Resources like Car And Driver Used Car Reviews often mention safety ratings, but understanding what these ratings truly mean is crucial. One key metric is the Overall Vehicle Score, often represented as a star rating. This score is designed to give you a quick assessment of a vehicle’s safety performance in the event of a crash.
The Overall Vehicle Score is calculated by considering the probabilities of injury in different types of crashes: frontal impact, side impact, and rollover. These probabilities are weighted based on real-world injury statistics for each crash type. The resulting overall risk is then compared to the average injury risk across all vehicles. This comparison determines the star rating, which breaks down as follows:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Significantly lower than average injury risk.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Lower than average to average injury risk.
⭐⭐⭐: Average to higher than average injury risk.
⭐⭐: Higher than average injury risk.
⭐: Significantly higher than average injury risk.
It’s important to note that comparing Overall Vehicle Scores, especially when using resources like Car and Driver used car reviews to assess used car options, has limitations. These scores are most reliably compared between vehicles within the same class and with similar weights. Specifically, you should only compare vehicles whose weights are within 250 pounds of each other.
For example, comparing the safety rating of a 4,500-pound SUV to a 3,000-pound sedan would be inappropriate, as they are in different classes and exceed the weight difference limit. Similarly, comparing a 3,600-pound pickup to a 3,400-pound van is also not recommended due to the class difference, even though they meet the weight requirement. However, you can accurately compare the scores of a 3,400-pound passenger car to a 3,650-pound passenger car because they are in the same class and within the acceptable weight range.
When you read Car and Driver used car reviews and see safety ratings, remember to consider these guidelines for comparison. Focus on vehicles in similar classes and weight ranges to get the most relevant safety insights for your used car buying decision. Understanding these nuances will help you effectively utilize safety information and make a well-informed choice for a safe and reliable used vehicle.
