Seventeen- to 24-year-olds in the UK generally believe colour has more bearing than safety in choosing a car. But recent research may help allay parents’ fears, as it has revealed the safest used cars.
A study conducted by Thatcham Research for
Co-op Insurance found that the safest used superminis are the Volvo V40 for vehicles under £15,000, and the Skoda Citigo for those priced below £5,000.
The research looked at second-hand cars under the supermini category with five-star Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) rating and CO2 emissions not more than 120g/km, according to a report by
Express & Star. It’s the second year in the row for the Volvo V40 to be named one of the UK’s safest used cars.
The Mazda 3 and Toyota Auris came in second and third, respectively, for cars under £15,000, according to an Auto Express report. In the lower bracket, the Volkswagen up!, and Seat Mii followed the Skoda Citigo.
“My advice to parents buying their child a first used car: do not buy the oldest or cheapest car you can find. There are plenty of good deals out there for newer or second-hand cars that have a five-star Euro NCAP test rating and are fitted with ESC (electronic stability control) and AEB (autonomous emergency braking) as standard,” said Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, as quoted in the report.
Data also showed that less than a third of the 1,000 young drivers surveyed consider safety when mulling over their car choice. Price was the biggest consideration, with 3 out of 4 respondents naming it as the top priority.
About 41% of drivers in the 17-24 age group have been involved in vehicular accidents while driving, as a majority are not familiar with safety devices.
Related stories:
Volvo to trial self-driving cars on UK roads in 2017
Amazon, Apple and Tesla have ‘opportunities in insurance’
.jpg)
