While buying a top SUV, the most important thing to do you check is for the best safety features and its crashworthiness. It is the same for any car or SUV that you may want to buy. The SUV range includes small, midsized or big enough to carry a small boat.

SUV should have safety features, which are compliant with government rules and regulations. The SUV and its crashworthiness are tested by the two government organizations – the IIHS and NHTSA.

Top SUVs with the best safety features need crash tests to point out the weaknesses and strengths in the car. There are various levels of crash tests that are conducted.

Crashworthiness

• Frontal Crashworthiness
  You need to look at the crash testing reports, which include the frontal crash test report. New models are getting top marks when tested for head-on-crash into a rigid barrier at 35mph. The IIHS tests are conducted at 40mph into a deformable barrier for a moderate overlap test. Not every vehicle gets good ratings from IIHS for small overlap frontal crash.
• Side Crashworthiness
  You should also choose a vehicle with good ratings for side crashes with side airbags to protect the head. The NHTSA and IIHS test the vehicles for front into side crashes. The tests show the dangers of different side impacts. Those vehicles with good ratings are less likely to die in a driver-side-impact crash. Majority of the new vehicles have side airbags.

Roof Strength
You need to look for a strong roof. The report by IIHS helps the consumer to pick a vehicle that will survive a rollover during a crash. A strong roof reduces any fatal or incapacitating injury during a rollover.

Head Restraints
You need to buy a vehicle that has a good rating for head and seat restraint it helps to reduce the whiplash in a rear-end collision. The vehicles having a good rating, have 15% fewer claims for insurance for neck injuries. The injuries are reduced with the correct placement of the restraint on the head.

Electronic Stability Control
This is a standard requirement since 2012 and all new models have it. This is an extension of the antilock brake technology. This control automatically engages and helps to maintain the control of the vehicle on slippery roads and on curves. This reduces the fatality in a single-vehicle crash and a rollover by over 80%.

Car Weight
Car weight is important. The cars that are over 3,500 lbs to 4500 lbs remain safe in a collision with a larger vehicle like a full-sized SUV. It reduces the threat to a smaller vehicle too like a compact car. Light and small vehicles give less protection during a collision or crash with a heavy vehicle. A lighter vehicle faces a higher crash force.

Safest Cars to Buy
How the car doors close is also very important. If it gives a satisfying “thunk” sound, then the car is safe from any side impact, which is always regarded as fatal. The more there is between you and the car the more it will preserve life.

Top SUVs always come with the best safety features in the market, and the ones mentioned above are what you should definitely look for.