When you’re in the market for a new car, safety is paramount. Understanding how new cars are rated for safety can empower you to make informed decisions. The Overall Vehicle Score is a key metric used to assess vehicle safety, providing a star rating that summarizes a vehicle’s crashworthiness. But how is this score calculated, and more importantly, how can you use it to Compare New Cars effectively?
The Overall Vehicle Score is determined by calculating probabilities of injury in different crash scenarios. These scenarios include frontal and side impacts, as well as rollover accidents. The calculations are weighted to reflect the real-world frequency of each type of crash. This weighted average is then compared against the average injury risk across all vehicles. Based on this comparison, vehicles are assigned an Overall Vehicle Score, indicated by a star rating:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 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
It’s crucial to understand the limitations when using the Overall Vehicle Score to compare new cars. Because the Overall Vehicle Score incorporates the frontal crash test rating, comparisons are only valid between vehicles in the same class and with a weight difference of no more than 250 pounds. This weight and class restriction is vital for accurate comparisons.
To illustrate, consider these examples of appropriate and inappropriate comparisons when you compare new cars based on their Overall Vehicle Scores:
- Incorrect Comparison: You cannot directly compare the safety rating of a 4,500-pound SUV to a 3,000-pound sedan. These vehicles are in different classes and exceed the permissible weight difference, making a direct comparison of their Overall Vehicle Scores invalid.
- Incorrect Comparison: Similarly, comparing a 3,600-pound pickup truck to a 3,400-pound minivan is also inappropriate, even though they meet the weight requirement. They belong to different vehicle classes (pickup vs. van), so their Overall Vehicle Scores are not directly comparable.
- Correct Comparison: It is valid to compare the Overall Vehicle Scores of a 3,400-pound passenger car with another passenger car weighing 3,650 pounds. They are in the same vehicle class (passenger cars) and the weight difference is within the 250-pound limit.
In conclusion, while the Overall Vehicle Score is a helpful tool when you compare new cars for safety, it’s essential to use it correctly. Always ensure that you are comparing vehicles within the same class and with comparable weights to draw meaningful conclusions about their relative safety performance. Understanding these limitations will help you utilize safety ratings effectively when choosing your next new car.
