InSure

The decision to buy a midsize luxury SUV this year may be met with excitement because of all of the incredibly stylish and thoughtfully designed models on the market in 2017.

However, before you make a hasty buying decision and rush to your local dealership, it is important to spend a few minutes exploring the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) ratings for this class of vehicles.

Some automobile buyers feel secure and confident driving any of the vehicles in this class because they are high-end SUVs. In reality, however, the IIHS safety test ratings for vehicles in this group have considerable differences in some categories.

Safety is a prime focal point for many automotive buyers, but you should avoid assuming that a vehicle is safe simply because it is a luxury model.

Reviewing the safety test results issued by the IIHS could help you to identify a few midsize luxury SUV models that rank well in prime safety areas.

Insurance companies also take safety into consideration when calculating SUV premiums, so determining which vehicles in this class are safer is important if you want to potentially save money on the cost of your insurance premium.

Compare car insurance quotes right here to get an idea of how much you could save on car insurance depending on which model vehicle you go with. Enter your zip code above to get started.

A Look at the Cadillac XT5 Versus the Buick Envision

If you have been searching for the right new SUV to purchase for your next vehicle, you certainly want to choose an SUV that is safe to commute in and for your loved ones to ride in.

Both the Cadillac XT5 and the Buick Envision have been carefully reviewed by the IIHS in three key safety areas, and two of these categories have been analyzed in-depth with sub-categories. The majority of the categories reviewed by the IIHS are rated as follows:

• Good
• Average
• Marginal
• Poor

Be aware, however, that the Front Crash Prevention category under the Crash Avoidance and Mitigation section uses ratings that span from “basic” to “superior.”

Crashworthiness

There are five unique sub-sections to the IIHS Crashworthiness safety section, and these are the Front Moderate Overlap, Front Small Overlap, Side, Head Restraints and Seats, and Roof Strength.

Together, these safety categories review a vehicle’s overall ability to reduce or prevent injuries for the SUV’s occupants in the case of a collision accident.

Both the Cadillac and the Buick models analyzed in this vehicle class were given a “good” rating in all five of these sub-categories.

Crash Avoidance and Mitigation

Under the IIHS category for Crash Avoidance and Mitigation, you will find the Headlights safety area and the Front Crash Prevention safety area. These two sub-categories review the SUV’s overall ability to prevent accidents or to minimize how severe the damage may be.

The Cadillac SUV model had a “superior” rating in the Front Crash Prevention section, and the Buick model had a slightly lower rating of “advanced” in this category.

On the other hand, the Buick model had an “average” result for Headlights, and the Cadillac model had a “marginal” result.

Latch for the Child Seat Anchors

Many midsize luxury SUVs in 2017 are purchased with the intention of transporting young children around town at least part of the time. The IIHS Latch category examines how easily a child’s car seat is attached to the latch anchors in the vehicle.

The Cadillac SUV model received a grade of “average” in this area, and the Buick model had a grade of “marginal.”

2017 Top Safety Pick and/or 2017 Top Safety Pick+

The IIHS has made it relatively easy to determine which vehicles in this class may be safer for you to drive. Each of the 19 SUV models in this class for 2017 has been analyzed for qualification for the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards.

These two awards both require higher ratings for all Crashworthiness tests and for the Front Crash Prevention test. The Headlight category also must have a higher rating for Top Safety Pick+ award.

For 2017, the Buick Envision was given the Top Safety Pick+ award because of its higher rating in the Headlights area. The Cadillac XT5 only received the honor of Top Safety Pick. However, six of the 19 SUV models in this class did not receive any honors for safety.

Examining the Safety Ratings for the Buick and Cadillac SUVs

As you review the IIHS safety test results for midsize luxury SUVs in 2017, you will see that the Buick has better ratings in some tested areas, and the Cadillac has better ratings in other areas.

Both have relatively high safety ratings in comparison to other vehicles in this class, so you may feel confident behind the wheel of either one.

You may need to explore other important criteria to make your final buying decision, such as the fuel economy or engine power of the vehicle.

Analyzing auto insurance premiums can also help you to make a wider buying decision. Each insurance provider often analyzes safety test results and statistics as well as numerous other factors when trying to determine a reasonable premium amount.

If you are focused on keeping expenses as low as possible, do not forget to obtain several auto insurance premium quotes on multiple vehicles before you decide which SUV to buy. Enter your zip code below to begin comparing car insurance quotes today!

Safety Comparisons

12.12.2017 / car safety features / safety comparison / SUV