The main reason why some people choose to buy a smaller car instead of a large vehicle is that they are much cheaper. Plus, maintenance costs for small cars are quite low, and they are much more fuel-efficient, which means you can save a lot of money on gas, and you can park them more easily as they are small and compact, so they are ideal for use in an urban area. But, they do have a couple of downsides, as well. For one thing, they are not very spacious or comfortable, which is why they are not recommended for long trips. The biggest concern with small cars, though, is how safe they are. The prevailing opinion among consumers is that small cars are less safe than larger cars, but there are a couple of valid arguments against this opinion.
Small cars are considered not safe mainly because of their size. When you look at a small car, you immediately think that it can roll over easily because it’s quite light and that you are not very well protected in it in case of a crash. But, that’s not necessarily true. Smaller cars have a lower center of gravity than large cars, which means the risk of rolling over in a collision is much lower, as well.
Also, while small cars may not have been safe in the past, that’s not the case anymore. Small cars used to be built without side airbags, and that’s why a lot of accidents involving small cars resulted in serious injuries or fatalities. Today, there are safety standards that require all cars to have dual front airbags, and a lot of small cars now come with side curtain airbags, as well, so they are significantly safer now.
Apart from airbags, there are a couple of other features that improve a car’s safety. In order to avoid a collision, a car must have good brakes, steering and handling. A small car can stop more easily than a large one, because it’s lighter, and if it has good brakes on top of that, you should be able to avoid a crash, provided that you have good driving skills, too. In addition, small cars today have so called crumple zones, that absorb the energy of an impact, so that the passengers only feel a small portion of the shock of the impact.
Those who want to buy a small car that is safe, can take a look at the Toyota iQ, that has nine airbags, along with traction control, the Chevrolet Sonic with ten airbags, which comes with the OnStar communications/safety system, and the Kia Rio, which comes with 6 airbags, brake-assist and an electronic stability control system.
In the end, a car can have all the safety features you can imagine, but if you want to avoid accidents, you have to be a skillful driver, practice safe driving practices, avoid distractions and always keep your eyes on the road. Also, you must remember that larger vehicles are not necessarily safer, and you shouldn’t discredit small cars’ safety because of their size.