There is a lot to consider when you’re looking at getting a new set of wheels. You need to take inventory of your needs to get the right style to fit your lifestyle and needs. You also need to consider more financial components such as car insurance costs in your state and what credit score you need to buy a car. But of the most important considerations are safety ratings.
To help weigh your safety options, Jack Gillis’s “The Car Book” partnered with the Center for Auto Safety to release its annual list of the “best bets” cars for 2016.
According to the press release, the center eliminated any cars that don’t have a government crash rating from consideration. From there, they looked at the performance and safety needs that the average American car buyer focuses on: crash safety, fuel economy, repair and maintenance costs, warranties, insurance costs, rollover, safety features and complaint history.
The results are below, broken out by type of vehicle, as well as the MSRP for the basic 2016 model of each.
Minivan
Honda Odyssey — $29,400
Subcompact
Chevrolet Sonic — $14,345
Honda Fit — $15,890
Kia Soul — $15,900
Compact
Buick Verano — $12,065
Toyota Corolla — $17,300
BMW 3 Series — $33,150
Mazda Mazda3 — $17,845
Volkswagen Jetta — $17,680
Intermediate
Acura TLX — $31,695
Volvo S60 — $34,150
Honda Accord — $22,205
Hyundai Sonata — $21,300
Chrysler 200 — $21,995
Audi A6 — $46,200
Chevrolet Malibu — $21,625
Large
Tesla Model S — $70,000
Cadillac XTS — $45,295
Buick LaCrosse — $31,065
Toyota Avalon — $32,650
Hyundai Genesis — $26,950
Small SUV
Acura RDX — $35,370
Buick Encore — $24,065
Chevrolet Trax — $20,300
Mid-Size SUV
Volvo XC60 — $36,600
Ford Edge — $28,700
Honda Pilot — $30,145
Large SUV
Lincoln Navigator — $63,195
Ford Expedition — $45,435
Toyota Highlander — $30,490
Standard Pickup
Ford F-150 — $26,430
No matter which car you ultimately decide is right for you, doing your research ahead of time is fundamental. Part of the shopping process is looking at where your credit stands so you have an idea of what auto loan rates you’re eligible for and how much you can afford. You can see two of your credit scores for free each month on Credit.com as well as get a free credit report annually from AnnualCreditReport.com.
More on Auto Loans:
- Are There Car Loans for People With Bad Credit?
- What to Do If You Can’t Make Your Car Payments
- Top 5 Worst Car Buying Mistakes
Image: Tesla Motors
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