Car Ratings, often presented as star ratings, are designed to give you a quick understanding of a vehicle’s safety performance. These ratings, also known as the Overall Vehicle Score, are calculated using a complex system that analyzes the probability of injury in different types of crashes. This system considers frontal and side impact tests, as well as rollover resistance assessments. The data from these tests are then weighted to reflect how often these types of accidents occur in the real world.
Decoding the Star Rating System
The ultimate goal of a car rating is to show whether a vehicle offers more or less protection than average in the event of a crash. This comparison is made against the average risk of injury across all vehicles on the road. Here’s how the star ratings break down:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Significantly lower than average risk of injury.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Lower than average to average risk of injury.
- ⭐⭐⭐: Average to higher than average risk of injury.
- ⭐⭐: Higher than average risk of injury.
- ⭐: Significantly higher than average risk of injury.
It’s important to remember that a 5-star rating indicates the best possible protection in this system, meaning you are much less likely to be seriously injured in a comparable crash compared to the average vehicle.
Comparing Car Ratings Fairly
While car ratings are helpful, it’s crucial to understand their limitations, especially when comparing different vehicles. A key rule to remember is that you should only compare the Overall Vehicle Scores of vehicles that are in the same class and have a similar weight. Specifically, the weight difference should not exceed plus or minus 250 pounds from the vehicle you are evaluating.
To illustrate this, consider these examples:
- Incorrect Comparison: You cannot directly compare the car rating of a 4,500-pound SUV to a 3,000-pound sedan. They are not only in different vehicle classes (SUV vs. sedan) but also exceed the weight difference limit.
- Incorrect Comparison: Similarly, comparing a 3,600-pound pickup truck to a 3,400-pound minivan is not appropriate. Although they meet the weight requirement, they belong to different vehicle classes (pickup vs. van).
- Correct Comparison: You can accurately compare the car rating of a 3,400-pound passenger car to another passenger car weighing 3,650 pounds. They are in the same class (passenger car) and the weight difference is within the permissible 250-pound range.
Understanding these comparison rules ensures that you are using car ratings effectively to assess safety within comparable vehicle types. When looking for your next car, pay attention to these ratings within the appropriate vehicle class to make an informed decision about safety.
