• Lifestyle
    • Your home
    • Our state
    • Member deals
    • Bushfire safety
  • On the Road
    • Car Advice
    • Road Rules
    • In focus
    • Road Safety
    • Australia’s Best Cars
  • Travel
    • South Australia
    • Interstate
    • Overseas
    • Tips
  • Competitions
  • Read the magazine

What’s the most dangerous type of car to drive?

Used-car safety ratings matter.

By Clair Morton
Published: Thursday, October 11, 2018

Here’s a scary statistic: drivers of used cars with the lowest safety rating are twice as likely to be killed in a crash as drivers of the highest-rated vehicles.

The report used data from more than 8 million collisions across the nation and New Zealand to identify the models that offer better protection in a crash.

Of the 372 models rated, 61 received 5 stars – 13 of which were singled as ‘safer picks’ – while 63 were given just 1 star.

The worst performing was the light car category, with 18 of the 31 light cars only getting a 1-star rating.

Of the light cars, only the Honda City, built from 2009 to 2013, gained the maximum rating of 5 stars.

The Honda City is the only light car to gain a 5-star rating.
The Honda City is the only light car to gain a 5-star rating.

RAA Senior Manager of Future Mobility Mark Borlace said it was also concerning that commercial utes typically had lower safety ratings.

“Utes with fewer safety stars are a major concern given the consistent increase in popularity of these vehicles over recent years,’’ Mr Borlace said.

“This was in part due to design standards for light commercial vehicles lagging behind those of regular passenger cars.’’

And what about the best-rated used cars? Large SUVs were the safest on the whole – unlike all other categories, no SUVs were given 1 star. Large and medium cars, meanwhile, had the most vehicles with a 5-star rating.

“Many of our ‘safer pick’ used vehicles are available for less than $15,000 and some for under $10,000, which is especially important for young people buying their first car,’’ Mr Borlace said.

The Toyota Camry built from 2011-16, for instance, is rated as one of the guide’s Safer Picks and can be bought for under $10,000.

Download the full list of cars to see how each rated.

Have a road-safety question?

Email our experts

Share
Tweet

Related Articles

Lifestyle

15 ways you know you’re an SA driver

Why don’t cars have a spot for Farmers Union Iced Coffee?

More

Car Advice

Dashboard light dilemma

Do you know all your dashboard lights and what they mean?

More

Car Advice

Is the 2011 Holden Cruze worth buying?

Here's what you should know before Cruzing off into the sunset.

More

In focus

6 burning driverless car questions answered

Imagine it's 2027. Are six-year-olds and people who are blind ‘driving’ driverless cars?

More

GPO BOX 1499 ADELAIDE 5001

T. 08 8202 4600

  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy
  • T&C
  • Advertise
  • © Copyright 2021 RAA