Getting behind the wheel of a new to you used car you’ve been dreaming about is a beautiful feeling. Especially when you’ve found the perfect color, all the bells and whistles you wished for, and the right financing.
Before you chose the year and model and headed to the dealership to check out their inventory, you probably hopped online and did your homework. You know what kind of gas mileage to expect, how the car or truck rates for reliability, and maybe even a thing or two about future maintenance needs. But what about car safety ratings? Do you know which of your favorites are top safety-rated used cars?
If you’re not sure how safe your potential used car choices are, you’re not alone. Most of us are just thrilled to find a car we love that we can afford to buy, insure, and put gas in and don’t give much thought to safety. After all, aren’t used cars with safety features supposed to reduce accidents and their severity? Safety technology definitely helps create safer vehicles, but some cars are safer than others, and you deserve the safest used car you can find.
That’s why we put together a list of some of the most popular and affordable vehicles that also have the best used car safety ratings. Here are six used cars with top safety ratings that look great, are a joy to drive, and won’t break the bank:
- Buick Encore
The Buick Encore has received an overall safety rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Encore received five stars for frontal crash and side crash safety and four stars for vehicle rollover safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Encore the highest rating in five different crash tests, and the SUV received the second-highest rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. - Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevy Colorado has been awarded a perfect five-star rating in front and side crash testing by the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the extended cab Colorado high ratings in most categories and the next highest rating for side crash safety. In contrast, the crew cab model earned high marks in all safety categories. Two of the most notable ADAS features on the Colorado are the forward collision alert and the lane departure warning. - Chevy Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu has earned the Top Safety Pick award and a Superior rating for front crash prevention. The IIHS rates the Malibu at the top of the list for five different crash tests. The NHTSA has given the Malibu a perfect five-star overall safety rating, with four stars for rollover safety and five stars for side and frontal crash safety. These combined high scores give the Malibu one of the best safety ratings a used car can get. - Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 series has earned top safety marks for each of its Touring, S, and Limited sedan configurations. The NHTSA gave the Chrysler 300 an overall safety score of four out of five stars. The 300 received four stars for frontal crash and rollover safety, but five stars in side crash tests. The IIHS has awarded the 300 the highest rating in four critical crash tests and the highest safety rating for its front crash prevention system. - Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger has received high safety ratings from the NHTSA, with an overall safety score of five out of five stars. The Challenger was awarded five stars for side crash protection and four stars for rollover and frontal crash situations. The IIHS awarded the Dodge Challenger the highest safety rating for moderate and side overlap front crash protection and the second-highest score for roof strength and seat safety. - Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento consistently finishes near the top in ratings for midsize SUVS, including car safety ratings. The Sorento received five stars for frontal and side crash safety, four stars for rollover protection, and an overall safety rating of five stars. The IIHS gave the Kia Sorento the highest rating in all six crash tests and designated the SUV as a Top Safety Pick. The Sorento is one of the best used cars with safety features and it earned the highest rating for its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system.
When you’re ready to pick out your next beautiful, safe used car, Tucson’s Car Time Supercenter invites you to come over and test drive some of your favorites. Whether you’re thinking about getting a used car in the future or are in the market today, contact us and let us show you our broad selection of used cars with top safety ratings.
All safety ratings come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
There are good reasons people will buy their next used car in Tucson from Car Time Supercenter. But I think we are one of the most trusted used car dealerships mainly because we treat everyone like family. My family has provided quality, dependable local used cars to Tucson customers since 1984, and I’m proud to be a part of our continued success.
Like many family-owned businesses, I grew up going to work with my dad. Falling in love with cars was natural because of my father’s passion, and eventually, I came to love the car business just like him. I officially joined the Car Time Supercenter team in 2012, starting in the finance department. Over the past decade, I’ve learned the used car business and how to treat customers from my family and industry resources.
Today, I oversee marketing, social media, inventory, and reconditioning, so I play an essential role in delivering local Tucson used car buyers the best experience possible. I also help our family business keep up with the times while providing old-fashioned customer service. From attending NADA classes to becoming Allstate certified for back-end products, I continue to learn and add skills to serve our customers better.
