5 Safest Family Cars of 2015

Are you looking to buy a new car soon? If you want a reliable, safe, quality-built car that’s the perfect size for your family, here are some suggestions on the safest family cars.

Every year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) honors vehicles with a “Top Safety Pick” award when it meets certain safety standards. Specifically, IIHS looks at two areas: crashworthiness (how well the vehicle protects its occupants during a crash) and mitigation (how much technology the vehicle has to prevent crashes or lessen their severity). IIHS recently released the full version of the 2015 Top Safety Picks, and we wanted to highlight a few that made the list:

2015 Hyundai Sonata

The redesigned Sonata is one of the safest family cars you can buy if you’re looking to purchase something brand new. The manufacturer improved the vehicle’s small overlap front rating with its redesigned concept. The new Sonata is also moderately priced, has a roomy inside and is visually-appealing with its smooth lines and curved features.

Standard safety features:

• Antilock brakes

• Electronic stability control

• Daytime running lights

• Rollover sensor (deploys side curtain airbags in an impeding rollover)

• Side airbags (front and rear head curtain airbags, plus front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags)

• Driver knee airbag (designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes)

2015 Chrysler 200

This midsize sedan improved its safety for its 2015 model compared to its previous generation model, which is why it makes our list of safest family cars. Specifically, the Chrysler 200 earned a superior rating for its front crash prevention capabilities. In addition to the Chrysler’s standard safety features, it offers an autobrake collision warning system in its optional SafetyTec package that helps prevent accidents.

Standard safety features:

• Antilock brakes

• Electronic stability control

• Programmable daytime running lights

• Rollover sensor (deploys side curtain airbags in an impeding rollover)

• Side airbags (front and rear head curtain airbags, plus front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags)

• Driver and front passenger knee airbag (designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes)

2015 Subaru Legacy

Along with its wagon version, this midsize vehicle earned a Top Safety Pick for its 2015 model. The Subaru Legacy was recently redesigned, and its brand has more IIHS Top Safety Picks than any other automotive manufacturer.

Standard safety features:

• Antilock brakes

• Electronic stability control

• Daytime running lights

• Rollover sensor (deploys side curtain airbags in an impeding rollover)

• Side airbags (front and rear head curtain airbags, plus front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags)

• Seat cushion airbags (to prevent occupants from sliding under seat belts)

2015 Infiniti Q70

This large sedan makes the list of safest family cars because it performed well [http://www.technologytell.com/in-car-tech/10442/infiniti-q70-rated-good-gets-top-safety-pick-iihs/] in its crash tests, due to its optional Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) system, which warns the driver of risks beyond their field of vision. The vehicle also features a variety of other standard and optional safety features, and its large size is perfect for a growing family.

Standard safety features:

• Antilock brakes
• Electronic stability control
• Side airbags (front and rear head curtain airbags, plus front seat-mounted torso airbags)

2015 Hyundai Genesis

The Hyundai Genesis performed better than any other car in its category in crash tests. The vehicle also has a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), so its safety features are not to be overlooked. This is the perfect midsize family car if safety is your main priority.

Standard safety features:

• Antilock brakes

• Electronic stability control

• Daytime running lights

• Rollover sensor (deploys side curtain airbags in an impeding rollover)

• Side airbags (front and rear head curtain airbags, plus front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags)

• Driver knee airbag (designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes)

From the braking system and tires to the windshield and vehicle structure, safety matters. If you’re in the market for a new car and are considering 2015 models, keep in mind the vehicle’s safety features. They could be the difference between a “so-so” car and the one you (and your family) love.