Are Bigger Cars Safer than Smaller Cars?

It’s no surprise to hear that motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the US. If you’re a parent, it’s probably something that’s on your mind a lot as you’re commuting! This is why Safe in the Seat is so committed to educating parents on car seat and vehicle safety. There are a few things that are more important to your family’s well-being! 

So, when you’re shopping for cars, it makes sense that you wouldn’t just look at cup holders and leather seats, but you’d also look at safety features! Often, we think of bigger vehicles or heavier vehicles as safer . . . but is that really true? Are small cars inherently less safe than larger vehicles? 

That’s what we’re going to look into today! We’ll answer the question and then give you some safety data you should look into before purchasing your next car. 

Are Bigger Cars Safer than Smaller Cars?

The truth is, bigger cars aren’t necessarily safer than smaller vehicles. We like to follow the safety testing of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)! They have rigorous standards and a truly holistic approach to ensure their crash tests are as accurate and thorough as possible. Their website is also easy to use and they break up cars not just by type, make, and model, but even model years, so you can ensure you’re looking at exactly the right vehicle. 

So, what does the IIHS show us as far as big vehicles over small vehicles? There isn’t a direct correlation between vehicle size and safety. In fact, many pickup trucks don’t do well in testing. That means when you’re shopping for vehicles, you should search each car individually to confirm that even though it’s bigger . . . it’s actually better. If you want to skip a few steps and just find the safest vehicles, here are the IIHS 2024 top safety picks. 

Things To Consider When Choosing A Car

Driver-Side and Passenger-Side Safety 

One good metric to look at when looking into a vehicle is passenger and driver safety. These tests will measure things like the structural integrity of the cage around the seats, the effectiveness of the restraint system, and the reported collision injuries. Of course, passenger and driver death rates are also taken into account! 

Side Impact Safety 

Side impact safety is another key feature when determining the safety of a vehicle! The testing measures reported injuries, structural performance, head protection, and more. This helps you understand the crashworthiness of a side impact over other types of collisions. Of course, this is important to parents with kids in the back seats! 

Headlight Illumination 

Headlights are another data point on the IIHS safety report. It’s no surprise visibility is a big part of crash prevention! They measure the distance the headlines illuminate as well as the direction. How well do they illuminate on curves and straightaways? What about in different weather conditions? This information will help you get a “clear view” of the car’s visibility. 

Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention 

This test basically tests the car’s braking capabilities at different rates of speed. It’ll also calculate these capabilities in different scenarios depending on where and in what direction the pedestrian is walking. There also may be sensors, alerts, or other braking support that will help warn drivers of pedestrians and prevent crashes. 

Seat Belt Reminders

Here’s a simple one. Does the vehicle alert the driver if they or someone else in the car isn’t wearing their seatbelt? And, how intrusive is the alert? The goal is to not only remind you if you forget to wear your seatbelt, but demand others in your vehicle do the same. If talking to them about how they’ll become dangerous projectiles isn’t enough to convince them, the annoying beeping hopefully will.  

Child Seat Anchor Options and Positions

In order for your kids to be safe in your new vehicle, they have to be properly buckled into correctly installed car seats. If forward-facing, your child will need that top tether fastened to a designated LATCH anchor. However, on some vehicles, these anchors aren’t available in all or even most seats, making it difficult or even impossible to get all your kids inside safely! You should also want to look at headrest removability. Non-removable headrests can be incompatible with some forward-facing seats and many high-back boosters.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle | Car Seat Safety (@safeintheseat)

The IIHS reports on the anchor status, so you will know where forward-facing kids can go since they will need a top tether! Here are more common car seat mistakes to look out for when installing and using your seat in your new vehicle. 

Blind Spot Monitoring 

Blind spot monitoring systems in cars are designed to make you aware of objects, vehicles, and people in your blind spots. A vehicle may do this through sensors, visual alerts, audible alerts, steering wheel vibration alerts, land-change assist, and rear-cross-traffic alerts. Basically, you want your car to detect what you can’t before it’s too late! 

Lane Departure 

Lane departure is meant to prevent unintentionally driving into another lane. Lane departure warning may just let you know when you start to drift, but other systems will actually intervene by applying setting changes or braking to keep the vehicle in that lane. These features aren’t essential, but can enhance the safety of a new vehicle.

Backup Camera and Parking Sensors

A backup camera is now standard in vehicles made after 2018, and for good reason. The backup camera is one of the best advanced safety features on the market for crash prevention. Not only does it prevent you from bumping a car as you back out of a parking spot, but it also can make you aware of children and adults who may be in a blind spot behind your vehicle. If buying an older car, a backup camera and additional parking sensors definitely increase the safety of the vehicle! 

Rollover Resistance 

Rollover resistance is how well a vehicle avoids tipping when it takes a sharp turn or is in a collision. Some things that’ll go into that are top-heaviness, a lower center of gravity, and electronic stability control systems. Tire grip, suspension design, and even rollover-resistant roofs. That last one doesn’t prevent a roll but helps keep you and your family safe if you are in a rollover accident. 

Your vehicle carries your most precious cargo; it’s important that it be as safe as possible. 

What we learned today is that vehicle size really doesn’t matter. It’s best to not assume that every larger vehicle will be safer than a smaller one, and instead, do your research on each vehicle option individually. Old or new, big or small, foreign or domestic, the safety just depends on design! 

For more on vehicle safety and safe car seat use, head over to the Safe in the Seat blog! We make finding trusted information easy for parents striving to keep their kids as safe as possible on every ride.