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Looking for one of the safest cars you can buy in 2022? Well, you’re in luck. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, better known as the IIHS, has released its list of top safety picks for 2022 — and we’re bringing the best of them — the safest cars on sale — straight to you.
To be declared a Top Safety Pick+ — the ultimate expression of safety in the IIHS system — a car had to meet three criteria:
It needed a “good” rating on the IIHS driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests.
It needed an “advanced” or “superior” rating on front crash prevention.
It also needed “acceptable” or “good” headlights to come standard. (Vehicles that only had those headlights available earned the “Top Safety Pick” award.)
This year, 65 vehicles have earned Top Safety Pick+ status. Renowned safety-focused brand Volvo led the way with ten vehicles earning that status. Check out the complete list.
The Mazda CX-30 was a hit with reviewers, us included. It’s premium-feeling. It has design-award quality looks (if you don’t stare too hard at the nearly Isuzu Vehicross-level cladding). It mainly carries over most of the driving dynamics from the excellent Mazda 3 with a bit (and we mean just a bit) more practicality. It’s hard to find a better all-around subcompact crossover under $30,000.
The one thing the CX-30 lacked at launch was some oomph from the engine. The CX-30 Turbo provides that missing element, leveling the subcompact crossover up to 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque (or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft if you plunk down for premium) with the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four.
What’s New: The Chrysler Pacifica got a major refresh for 2021 with a more SUV-like appearance, a new super-lux Pinnacle trim and all-wheel drive, which is available with Chrysler’s Stow N’Go seats.
What’s Unique: The Pinnacle trim converts the minivan into a full-on luxury car with quilted Nappa leather seats, second row lumbar support pillows and premium finishes.
Mitsubishi unveiled the new 2022 Outlander on Amazon Live; we’ll spare you the Prime delivery jokes. It rides on the surprisingly improved Nissan Rogue‘s platform, and certainly counts as a stylish upgrade from the last version. It will offer three-row seating, and arrives in April starting at less than $26,000.
The VW ID.4 has more than enough range for real life
The ID.4 Pro S delivers 250 miles of range, according to the EPA. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s about on par for a (non-Tesla) EV here in 2021. That said, it’s going to be more than enough for just about anyone living in the suburbs.
I used the ID.4 for a week. I didn’t charge it, didn’t disable the climate controls or do anything crazy. Still, I took my family on an excursion to Ann Arbor (77 miles roundtrip), attended a friend’s cookout (27 miles), took the kids to my inlaws’ country club (21 miles), ran errands during the week and I dropped my kids off at school and daycare. The ID.4 still showed 110-plus miles of range when I gave it back.
Of course, that’s not how most ID.4 owners will use it. Most will install a Level 2 charger at home, leave the car on it overnight and rarely if ever approach the limit. Still, if you’re stuck depending on public fast chargers — say, if you live in an apartment or rent your home — you can be assured that the ID.4 can get you through an average week without charging concerns.
Volkswagen
The 2022 Ford Maverick Is the Small Truck You Didn’t Know You Needed
As with its big brother, the F-150, just about anyone can find a reason to buy a Maverick.