The More Stars the Better: Used Vehicles With Five-Star Safety Ratings

Do you expect to settle when shopping for used cars for sale near Raleigh? Most people believe buying a used vehicle means compromising their wants, needs, and must-haves to stay within their budget. After all, aren’t most used vehicles considered “less than” newer models with the latest features and technologies? Isn’t newer always better? Fortunately, this isn’t true, as we can see from the skyrocketing demand for used vehicles. What is it that Raleigh drivers are looking for in used cars?

With automakers constantly updating and refreshing their lineups, the used market is saturated with cars, trucks, and SUVs that offer exceptional value and innovative technologies, but one of the most valued aspects of modern vehicles is their advanced safety features that yield high safety ratings. These ratings are critical, showcasing the quality of a used vehicle and proving the value of investing in a pre-owned model is tangible. But which used vehicles have the highest safety ratings, and what do those ratings really mean?

Five Stars and Why It Matters: Meet the NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was established in 1970 with the passage of the Highway Safety Act in an effort to reduce injuries and deaths from motor vehicle crashes. Within its first decade of operation, the NHTSA started testing and rating vehicles based on their performance during front collisions. This testing proved vital and continuously evolved and expanded, with the NHTSA adopting its 5-Star Safety Ratings system in the early 1990s to paint a clearer picture of the results.

Still in use today, the 5-Star system continues to evolve by recognizing and testing the most common types of collisions—frontal, side, and rollover—and the significance of advanced driver-assist technologies. As a result, the NHTSA is the only organization that scores frontal and side crashworthiness and rollover resistance, which paints a more comprehensive portrait of how a vehicle responds in a collision. Moreover, the testing gives potential buyers another easily accessible quality metric when shopping, with consumers recognizing that more stars are always better when choosing the best and safest model available. Curation is critical for those new to car shopping, especially when shopping used.

The Highest-Ranked Vehicles on the Used Lot

The NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program proves you can get behind the wheel of a well-built pre-owned car, truck, or SUV without compromising your safety or settling for anything sub-par so long as you adhere to their best-rated picks. You’d be surprised how many used models offer top-ranked safety features and driver-assist technologies comparable to newer models, all at a fraction of the price. So, what vehicles rank the highest?

Five-Star Sedans

Raleigh drivers looking for a safe and well-equipped sedan have plenty of options when shopping across the NTHSA’s five-star models. Since automakers consistently update their lineups with mid-cycle refreshes and new technologies, these ratings can change yearly. Because of this, it’s essential to research the particular make and model you’re interested in on our lot to learn more about its ratings.

The safest sedans by the NHTSA’s standards include the best-selling Honda Civic and Accord, which have been cornerstones in the Honda lineup for decades, offering a long history of generations to look at when shopping used. The Toyota Corolla and Camry, Nissan Altima and Maxima, Subaru Legacy, Mazda3, and Kia K5 frequently earn five stars as well, with Subaru cornering the segment with its symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system. Kia promises to satiate your penchant for performance with the K5’s available dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

Volvo sedans also earn high ratings thanks to the automaker’s exceptional, high-strength designs and the inclusion of advanced safety features. As a result, the Volvo lineup is one of the safest and best-equipped in the industry. Some popular models include the S60 and five-door wagons like the V60.

Five-Star SUVs

SUVs are incredibly popular in Raleigh because of their higher driving positions, spacious cabins, and overall versatility that doesn’t compromise efficiency or handling. Most importantly, drivers have better visibility because they’re sitting higher, which plays a prominent role in driver safety. Fortunately, automakers take that even further by using high-strength platforms designed to absorb the energy and impact during a collision to protect everyone in the cabin.

As expected, some automakers do a better job with this construction than others, with Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota among those who excel. Their SUVs boast robust body structures and incorporate advanced safety technologies like blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist systems, and automatic emergency braking. Because of this, models like the Ford Bronco Sport, Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer, Toyota RAV4 and Highlander, and Hyundai Santa Fe typically earn five-star safety ratings.

The diversity of these five-star SUVs is crucial. Why? Consider your options and how easy it is to find a five-star rated SUV for almost every particular need. For example, the Bronco Sport can satiate your penchant for adventure just as readily as the Telluride treats your family with luxury and comfort. Because of this diversity among the segment, you can find an SUV that enhances your specific lifestyle without compromising quality or safety.

Five-Star Trucks

Raleigh natives love their trucks, relying on them as work partners who can get any job done. Fortunately, the world’s leading truck manufacturers go to great lengths to design trucks that heighten our safety wherever the road leads. In turn, drivers reap the benefits of investing in a truck that doubles as their weekday road warrior and weekend adventurer, whether hauling heavy equipment between job sites or venturing deep into the North Carolina woods for a weekend camping trip with friends.

Trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500, GMC Sierra, and Ford F-150 are industry-wide favorites because of their modern designs, potent heartbeats, brute strength, and many functional features. Yet, they’re also among the safest trucks in the class. These full-size road warriors usually earn five-star safety ratings, with exceptional scores in front crash testing, side crash testing, and rollover incidents. The addition of advanced trailering technologies and driver-assist features, like evasive steering tools and comprehensive blind spot monitoring, add to the appeal of these models, making them excellent finds on the used lot for those looking for a safe, capable, and well-equipped truck.

A Few Shopping Tips

As you shop for a used car, truck, or SUV, know that you never have to settle or compromise because you’re investing in a pre-owned model with a few miles logged on the odometer. Instead, consider the significance of your investment and what it means when you’re behind the wheel. For example, look at everything you’re getting in a used vehicle, especially one with a five-star safety rating, relative to how much it costs and the money you’re saving. You’re paying closer to the vehicle’s actual value without compromising your safety; the NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings system proves as much.

Use the NHTSA’s ratings as a tool to make a confident investment. It doesn’t consider the price tag, packages, or luxury features like leather upholstery. Instead, the ratings look at the vehicle’s structure, the core fundamentals, and key standard features that will heighten your safety no matter where you go or how you use your vehicle. It’s a solid foundation for shopping, and once you find a model with a good foundation, you can enjoy the thrill of those little luxuries and other amenities that make your ride all the more enjoyable.