When buying a vehicle, there are a lot of different aspects of it that the buyer considers. When the family takes part in its purchase, each family member will have their wants and needs. One thing in common they will all agree upon is the safety factors of the vehicle. When it comes to the minivans, these vehicles have a lot to offer. But again, buyers want to know which are going to be the safest.
There are many different testing facilities. Those used for testing the safety features of a vehicle. Many of the manufacturers have their testing mandate. Then there are stand-alone facilities. These are ones that put vehicles through their paces when it comes to safety.
Many of the extensive testing facilities and statistics are produced in the US. The outcome of these tests can apply to those minivans that are also sold in Canada.
The following is a list of what’s considered to be the safest minivans for 2018 that are available in Canada.
2018 Honda Odyssey
This minivan is chosen as the safest minivan for 2018.
The safety features of this vehicle are;
- Controlled braking
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control
- Hill Start Assist
- Auto High Beam
- Seat Belt Safety
- Child Safety
- Pedestrian Safety
- Advanced Compatibility Engineering
- Eight Standard Airbags
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
This minivan takes the second spot on the top ten minivans built for safety. It’s comprised of the same safety features that come with the Pacifica along with;
- the 360 degrees Surround View Camera
- Active braking
- Forward collision warning
- Park Assistant for Parallel and Perpendicular parking
- Stop and Go Adaptive Cruise Control
- Key Sense
2018 Kia Sedona
Coming in third on some lists for safety is the Kia Sedona. Other lists have placed it in fifth place. It has its version of safety features. All which have impressed those in the business of vehicle safety ratings. It possesses;
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Impact Safety
- Blind spot Detection System
- Back-Up Camera
- Vehicle Stability
2018 Toyota Sienna
This minivan has made it into the top ten list because it too has a lot of great safety features built into it. It has;
- Toyota Safety Sense. It is a safety package. Which is comprised of multiple safety features which include pre-collision warning and braking.
- Eight built-in airbags
2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
The Dodge Grand Caravan is a popular minivan in Canada. The 2018 model has impressed safety experts with its features such as;
- Traction Control
- Stability Control
- 7 Seatbelts
- 7Airbags
Where each of the vehicles ends up on the top ten lists may vary slightly. But, they’re recognized for the importance of their safety features. It is this that counts for the consumers.
What is Looked At When Determining the Safety Performance of Vehicles
Every testing facility will have their priorities as to what they want to test a vehicle for. Some of the most common ones are how the vehicles will stand up in a frontal crash. As well as a side crash and roll over. There are other factors that are sometimes considered for testing. These are the risks for the driver and the passengers as well as rollovers for 4x2s and 4x4s.
Making Use of the Safety Features
Every vehicle owner has their expectations that they set when buying a vehicle. It means looking at the safety features. Then determining which ones the buyer feels are the most important. Many of the minivans have similar versions of different safety components. To be unique, they have each added some extras to their minivans. It is then up to the vehicle buyer to determine if they like what is being offered. Is it enough with that extra feature to encourage them to buy the minivan.
How Do The Insurance Company Look at Vehicle Safety Features?
The insurance companies are going to favour anything that is going to lower their risks. The safety features will be important to them. But, each insurance company is different. So, they set their criteria for determining the cost of their insurance packages. They also rely on statistics. It takes time to accumulate statistics. When they are looking at the latest year in vehicles to insure they have no statistics to rely on. So it may make it a little more difficult for them to use stats as they relate to safety. They do have enough information. That which pertains to many safety features that have been tested through driver experiences. And they will use these as a metric. These include….
Airbags
These have become so common because they are mandatory. However, vehicle manufacturers have capitalized on the safety that these airbags provide. They have added more to many of the minivans outside of what is mandatory. The insurance companies are in favour of this. So, they will reward drivers buying a vehicle with extra airbags. Each Insurance Company will differ in the amount of discount that they will offer. When there are extra airbags, these can help with an insurance discount.
Extra airbags are not mandatory. But when present they can increase the insurance discount significantly.
Anti Lock Brakes
Yet again another safety feature that is now common in most new vehicles. Insurance Companies in most cases will still consider a discount for insured vehicles that have this technology.
Automatic Seatbelts
These are controversial, and a lot of vehicles don’t have them. But, there are still some insurance companies who feel positive about them. So they will offer extra discounts for insuring vehicles that have them.
Be Insurance Discount Smart
When shopping for insurance most look at the bottom line. This is what the premiums are going to cost. Of course, this is important, but there are a lot of factors that can contribute to this. Knowing what these will help with making the insurance buying decision. Insurance companies do offer discounts. They will each differ in what these are. Plus, they will vary in the amounts. Knowing what the safety features are of the vehicle being insured helps to determine if they apply to a discount.
About the Author: Ashley Miller
