The Four Safest Fords
Safety features and safety scores are important car details that often get overlooked when someone is shopping for a new vehicle. Sure, you may be familiar with the vehicles that are not so protective, but the safest cars occasionally get ignored. You'd be surprised that some of the most impressive models on the market are also the safest, and Ford has a variety of vehicles that have received five-star safety scores.
If you want to prioritize safety as you search for a new car (and to be honest, it should certainly be on the top of the list), take a look at our guide to the safest Fords. If you're convinced, you'll be itching to head down to your local Ford dealerships in New Hampshire...
2014 Ford Focus Electric
The Ford Focus models were generally well-received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). All three came away with five-star ratings, but it was the electric model that aced every category (it also received an excellent score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). While all three vehicles got five stars for the side crash test, it was only the Focus Electric that earned five stars for the frontal crash test and rollover test.
When you consider how the electric SUV was built, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that it received such high safety scores. 55-percent of the vehicle's body is made from "high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel" (as the car's brochure describes), and Ford also included the "ultra-high strength boron steel frontal-impact absorption beam," rails that were "designed to transfer impact forces to the roof structure," and some "decoupling mounts for the electric motor." To top it off, the Focus Electric also had the same Trinity front-crash architecture and Side Protection and Cabin Enhancement Architecture that the gas Focus was commended for.
There's also a variety of standard features that come included in the vehicle, including driver, side, passenger, and rear air bags, four-wheel antilock brake system, a brake assist system, and traction control. There's also some innovative technology, including the AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, which helps a driver keep control of their SUV by analyzing the vehicle's roll rate, roll angle, yaw rate and lateral acceleration
2015 Ford Fusion
The 2015 Fusion also earned a perfect overall safety rating from the NHTSA, earning a five-star rating in the front crash test and four stars in the side crash test and rollover crash test.
Among the vehicle's safety features are eight standard airbags and second row safety belts, which both help minimize potential injuries during accidents. The crash severity sensor will assist in the deployment of these airbags, as it will help recognize how bad the crash is and which strategy should be used in regards to the airbags.
Among the technological features are the AdvanceTrac stability control (which we've described in the other profiles), as well as an intelligent all-wheel drive system that helps balance "torque between the front and rear wheels to enhance handling and maximize traction." This would be especially important in wet conditions, but you don't have to worry about your sedan slipping and sliding.
To make the vehicle even more desirable, the $22,500 is very reasonable. You won't find another car that can offer the same combination of power, luxury, fuel economy, and (of course) safety.
Ford F-150
Ford's truck was the lone selection in the 'large pickup' category for the IIHS's 2015 Top Safety Picks of the Year, and it also earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA. If you're looking for a safe pickup truck, there's really no other option.
It all starts with the safety structure, as Ford included a "high-strength military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and high-strength steel frame." The brand tirelessly tested their technology, subjecting the F-10 to over 10 million miles of testing, as well as "extensive computer test simulations and crash testing to ensure its structural integrity in front, side, rear and rollover impacts."
There's also 'class-exclusive' rear safety belts which will better distribute the crash force across the torso. There's the expected AdvanceTrac system, as well as Curve Control (which assists a driver in turning while traveling over the speed limit) and Trailer Sway Control (which prevents your trailer or camper from swaying while traveling).
Otherwise, the F-150 includes four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control.
2015 Ford Edge
The sports utility vehicle is officially one of the safest models from this past year, as it received a five-star rating in Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA. The safety award comes a year after the Edge received four-stars, and it was clear that Ford prioritized safety for their 2015 model.
The brand includes innovative technology like AdvanceTrac, their collision warning technology (which will alert you and automatically slow your vehicle if it senses an inevitable crash), the blind spot monitoring assistance (which helps alert you of any drivers who may have snuck in beside you while you're attempting to switch lanes), and the lane assist (which helps keep your vehicle from slightly drifting into another lane).
The Edge offers a variety of other safety features, highlighted by front, side and curtain airbags. There's also inflatable rear seat belts (which have been proven effective in preventing a variety of injuries) and a active glove box airbag (which should hopefully prevent any nasty leg injuries). There's also a four-wheel antilock brake system, emergency braking assist, stability control, traction control, and tire pressure monitoring.
If you're looking for a safe family vehicle, there's really no other option than the award winning Ford Edge.
Ford offers a variety of different vehicles that have received accolades for their safety. Even if you're not necessarily prioritizing safety scores, there's not many Ford models that weren't praised for their efforts.
If we've convinced you, you should head down to Irwin Ford in Laconia, New Hampshire. You should find most of the vehicles above and many more, and you can be driving out of the lot in a new car in no time!