Honda Civic
The Honda Civic has not only been Canada's best-selling car for the past 17 years, it's also one of the highest ranked small vehicles for driver safety.
AutoTRADER.ca named it the winner of its inaugural 2017 Overall Top Pick award, a designation that was determined by some of the country's top automotive journalists, and the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the vehicle a Top Safety Pick for the past several years.
Some of its standout safety features include front crash prevention, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, controlled braking, secure body structure for injury prevention and impact protection, seatbelt and airbag innovations, and child safety measures that includes a unique method for installing car seats that doesn't rely on the vehicle's seatbelt system.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
This car took home the title of 2017 Canadian Car of the Year by AJAC, a spot previously owned by the aforementioned Honda Civic. These two vehicles both made the IIHS's list of Top Safety Picks in 2017. What sets the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack apart from its competitors are features like 4MOTION all-wheel drive, a trademarked stability system with increased traction reserves for bad weather and rough roads, according to vw.ca.
It also has a driver assistance feature with dynamic swiveling lights to increase illumination around corners, giving drivers a longer response time against any hidden obstacles. The addition of anti-slip technology, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking and additional safety features may intrigue the educator who likes to play it safe on the road.
Volvo S90 Sedan
The Volvo S90 Sedan features Volvo's Pilot Assist II technology, which the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC) named the Best New Safety Technology for 2017. This luxury car is considered a semi-autonomous vehicle that leaves the driver in control, but provides automatic assists when required, according to the Toronto Star.
While it can help to control acceleration, braking and steering, what makes the Volvo S90 Sedan unique is its ability to detect large animals such as deer and coyotes and warn the driver if they're within a 200-metre range. It can also automatically brake in situations where a driver doesn't take action quickly enough, helping to avoid collisions and prevent the vehicle from running off the road.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester sits amongst the others as one of the safest vehicles of 2017 according to the IIHS, but it was one of the few vehicles to receive the TSP+ designation. It's also an AJAC winning vehicle for both the Canadian Utility of the Year and the Best New Small Utility Vehicle of 2017.
The committee recognized Subaru for its "continued commitment to improvements in safety, performance and convenience." Among the top features, the Forester has a sound structure with front crash protection that ranked well in controlled crash tests, with results showing low risk of significant injuries for both drivers and passengers alike.
Hyundai Elantra
Another TSP+ pick, the redesigned Hyundai Elantra has improved safety ratings for its reinforced structure and improved occupant protection. This budget-friendly car has seven airbags, pedestrian detection, automatic braking, forward collision warning, enhanced blind spot assistance, autonomous steering adjustment via a lane-keep feature, and automatic high beams. Some of these features are optional and can be purchased to enhance the vehicle beyond its standard features.
The Hyundai Elantra is Canada's second best-selling vehicle and the only vehicle in the top 10 that saw an increase in sales in 2016 over 2015. Other safety features that contribute to the appeal of the Elantra include advanced theft protection, child seat anchors and dusk-sensing headlights.
Safety's first, but insurance discounts count too!
Did you know certain safety features might also qualify you for discounts on your car insurance? Talk to your OTIP broker today to find out what discounts you may be eligible for by calling 1-866-523-4111.
Also, if you are considering purchasing a new vehicle, why not run some online quotes through otipinsurance.com to get an estimate on your car insurance.