In the quest for the perfect car, safety often tops the list of concerns. Yet, some popular models skimp on crucial safety features, leaving drivers and passengers at greater risk. Which cars have made compromises that could cost dearly in an emergency?
1. 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage
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The Mitsubishi Mirage lacks advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking in its base model, a critical oversight in urban driving environments where accidents are frequent.
2. 2023 Chevrolet Spark
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Despite its appeal as an affordable compact car, the 2023 Chevrolet Spark offers minimal active safety technologies and received low scores in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests.
3. 2021 Ford Mustang
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The Ford Mustang, while a legendary sports car, has been criticized for its poor rear visibility and lack of standard safety technologies such as blind-spot monitoring in base variants.
4. 2023 Nissan Pathfinder
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Recent models of the Nissan Pathfinder have been scrutinized for not standardizing safety features like lane departure warnings across all trims, limiting these essential aids to higher-end models only.
5. 2022 Dodge Challenger
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The Dodge Challenger struggles with outward visibility and lacks standard driver-assistance features that are commonly found in other sports cars of its class, such as adaptive cruise control.
6. 2023 Kia Rio
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While affordable, the Kia Rio does not offer advanced safety features such as lane-keeping assist or collision warning in its base models, which are critical for preventing accidents.
7. 2023 Hyundai Accent
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The Hyundai Accent’s base model comes with very basic safety features, missing out on newer technologies like automatic emergency braking that can prevent rear-end collisions.
8. 2022 Jeep Wrangler
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Notoriously, the Jeep Wrangler has been critiqued for poor crash test results, particularly in the driver-side small overlap test conducted by IIHS, reflecting potential safety risks in frontal impacts.
9. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV
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The Chevrolet Bolt EV has faced major recalls due to battery issues that pose fire risks, overshadowing its otherwise robust suite of driver-assistance features.
10. 2023 Honda Fit
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The Honda Fit is popular for urban drivers but lacks comprehensive standard safety technology, including adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection, which are becoming norms in its segment.
11. 2021 Toyota Tacoma
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The Toyota Tacoma has been reported to have subpar crash test ratings, particularly in the passenger-side small overlap front test by IIHS, which raises concerns about passenger safety.
12. 2022 RAM 1500 Classic
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While the RAM 1500 Classic offers a rugged build, it does not include standard forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking, features that many of its competitors now offer.
13. 2023 Nissan Titan
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The Nissan Titan lags behind its competitors in active safety features, lacking standard lane departure warnings and automatic braking systems across its range.
14. 2021 Chevrolet Camaro
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The Chevrolet Camaro suffers from poor visibility and lacks many of the safety technologies that help prevent accidents, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert in its standard configuration.
15. 2022 Fiat 500
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Despite its charm, the Fiat 500’s compact size and minimal safety features do not offer the same level of crash protection or driver assistance technologies as other vehicles in its class.
16. 2023 Subaru BRZ
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The Subaru BRZ is a performance-focused vehicle that prioritizes speed and handling over comprehensive safety, missing out on key features like adaptive headlights and automatic emergency braking.
17. 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
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While the Mazda MX-5 Miata offers a thrilling driving experience, it lacks some of the advanced safety features, such as lane keeping assist, that can help to mitigate human error while driving.
18. 2022 Ford Ranger
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The Ford Ranger, while a capable and popular midsize truck, has received criticism for not offering more advanced safety features as standard in all its models, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.
Steering Clear of Danger
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As manufacturers continue to evolve and improve their models, it is crucial for consumers to stay informed about what safety features are available—and which are missing. When considering your next vehicle purchase, how will these factors influence your choice?
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For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
