Concerned about the suite of safety features in older model years of your favorite car? You might be surprised to learn that many used cars are just as safe as the current model years boast. Automakers have long taken safety seriously, and popular manufacturers from Ford to Nissan are known for their high safety standards.
Automakers worry about more than just the NHSTA safety rating. Safety systems include everything from Lane Keeping Assistance to cameras and more. From the Toyota Camry to the Ford Edge and beyond, check out a few of our favorite models that boast modern safety systems.
Toyota Star Safety System
If the name "Star Safety System" sounds like an intergalactic missile defense force to you, don't feel silly. It kind of does. It may not guard our country against alien attacks, but it does protect occupants of properly equipped Toyota vehicles. Toyota uses the name as a comprehensive label for six vital technologies: Vehicle Stability Control, Anti-Lock Brakes, Brake Assist (which can apply maximum braking pressure in panic-stop situations), Smart Stop Technology (which applies the brakes if the driver accidentally presses both the gas and brake pedals), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (which routes braking power to maximize control and stability) and Traction Control. It became standard on most new Toyota models in 2010, so by the time the 2016 Camry came around, it wasn't an exotic new tech package or expensive add-on.
Toyota's perennially popular sedan passed its crash tests with outstanding scores. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) deemed the 2016 Camry a Top Safety Pick+. The Camry aced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) evaluations and earned a 5-star Overall Rating.
Subaru EyeSight
It always helps to have an extra pair of eyes on something, whether you're trying to hang a picture straight or proofread a document. They're especially important while you're driving, which is probably why Subaru named its suite of driver assistance technologies EyeSight.
The modern version of it includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Throttle Management (to reduce engine power before an accident), and Pre-Collision Braking. Before EyeSight became standard equipment on the 2019 Ascent, it was available on a variety of earlier Subarus, including the 2017 Forester. That model could be configured with an updated version of EyeSight with new cameras that provided a wider field of vision, as well as Lane Keep Assist. The Limited and Touring grades equipped with EyeSight also had Reverse Automatic Braking. Forester Premium with EyeSight benefited from the addition of Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Just like the 2016 Toyota Camry, the 2017 Subaru Forester received the highest overall safety scores from the NHTSA and IIHS.
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AcuraWatch
The RLX once had the top spot in Acura's sedan hierarchy, so it was available with advanced hardware and tech. The refreshed 2018 model came as either the 377-horsepower Sport Hybrid with three electric motors and Acura's torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system or the gas-powered RLX with a 310-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 connected to a new 10-speed automatic and the Precision All-Wheel Steer setup. Both models provided the vigilance of AcuraWatch, an array of features that included Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System with Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning. Traffic Jam Assist, which keeps the RLX its lane and at a set following distance from the vehicle in front of it, joined that long list for the 2018 model year.
Acura's former flagship sailed away from crash testing with an IIHS Top Safety Pick title and 5-star Overall Safety Rating from the NHTSA.
Ford Co-Pilot360 - 2019 Ford Edge
Ford's midcycle refresh of the Edge brought more to the market than just new grilles and front and rear fascias. The 2019 Edge introduced a new 8-speed automatic transmission and the ST performance model. It was also the Blue Oval's first SUV to get the Ford Co-Pilot360 tech bundle as standard equipment. The basic package contained automatic high beams, a rearview camera, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, Lane-Keeping System, and more. SEL, Titanium and ST models were available with a more advanced version called Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, which added voice-activated navigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, and Evasive Steering Assist.
The updated 2019 Edge crashed its way to success in the IIHS and NHTSA testing facilities, securing a Top Safety Pick award and 5-star Overall Safety Rating, respectively.
Nissan Safety Shield 360
Not only is it nice to have another pair of eyes watching out for you when you're on the road, but it's also a good feeling knowing you're protected from every angle. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 collection of features has them covered. High Beam Assist (automatic high beams) and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection take care of what lies ahead. Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning protect the vehicle from the sides. Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Automatic Braking perform their important jobs at the back end.
As part of its comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical update of the Titan for 2020, Nissan incorporated Nissan Safety Shield 360 into the pickup. The Titan Crew Cab went on to receive top scores in all but one of the IIHS's six Crashworthiness categories and a 4-star Overall Safety Rating from the NHTSA.
Contributed by - Derek Shiekhi
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Used Acura RLX
