Understanding vehicle safety is paramount when choosing a new car. Resources like “Car And Driver Compare Cars” are invaluable tools for consumers. A key metric in vehicle safety assessment is the Overall Vehicle Score, often represented by a star rating system. This score is designed to give a quick, at-a-glance understanding of a vehicle’s safety performance in crash tests. But what does this score really mean, and how should you use it when you compare cars?
The Overall Vehicle Score is calculated from a combination of crash test results. It takes into account the probabilities of injury in different types of accidents, specifically frontal and side impacts, as well as rollover resistance. These individual probabilities are weighted based on real-world accident statistics to reflect how frequently each type of crash occurs and the associated injuries. This weighted calculation results in an overall injury risk assessment for the vehicle.
This overall risk is then compared to the average injury risk across all vehicles in the current fleet. Based on this comparison, vehicles are assigned a star rating. A five-star rating (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) indicates that the vehicle’s overall injury risk is much less than average. Conversely, a one-star rating (⭐) signifies that the overall injury risk is much greater than average. The star ratings are broken down as follows:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Overall injury risk is much less than average
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Overall injury risk is less than average to average
- ⭐⭐⭐: Overall injury risk is average to greater than average
- ⭐⭐: Overall injury risk is greater than average
- ⭐: Overall injury risk is much greater than average
However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations when you “car and driver compare cars” using these Overall Vehicle Scores. Direct comparisons are only meaningful between vehicles that are in the same vehicle class and have a similar weight. Specifically, to ensure a valid comparison, the vehicles being compared should not differ in weight by more than 250 pounds.
For example, it would be inappropriate to compare the Overall Vehicle Score of a heavy 4,500-pound SUV with that of a lighter 3,000-pound sedan. This is because they are in different vehicle classes and the weight difference exceeds the 250-pound limit. Similarly, comparing a 3,600-pound pickup truck to a 3,400-pound minivan, while within the weight range, is also invalid because they belong to different vehicle classes.
On the other hand, it is perfectly valid to compare the Overall Vehicle Scores of two passenger cars, such as a 3,400-pound car and a 3,650-pound car. They are in the same class (passenger cars) and their weight difference (250 pounds) is within the permissible limit.
When you “car and driver compare cars”, remember that the Overall Vehicle Score is a valuable tool for understanding relative safety within comparable vehicle categories. Always consider the vehicle class and weight when interpreting and comparing these safety ratings to make informed decisions.
