Seemingly every year, automobiles are gaining yet another feature designed to make them safer than the year before, making the old phrase "They sure don't build 'em like the used to," a compliment -- at least sometimes. Heading into 2015, there is no shortage of safe SUVs -- there are 10 that received five-star overall ratings from the NHTSA. Because these 10 safest SUVs all received five-star ratings in frontal crash safety, side crash safety and overall safety, and four stars in rollover prevention, the only way to order them is by rollover chance percentage.
Once a much-derided brand, Hyundai has improved by leaps and bounds. Heading into the 2015 model year, these improvements manifested in the Santa Fe by putting it at the top of the list of the safest SUVs in 2015. This placement comes courtesy of its low, 14.3 percent chance of a rollover in the NHTSA's dynamic rollover test. The Santa Fe that the NHTSA tested came with adjustable upper seat belt anchors on the front seats, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for the first and second rows, and front-seat torso air bags.
Korea takes a 1-2 finish in the safest SUVs for 2015, with the Kia Sportage coming in 2nd place, thanks to its 15.5 percent chance of a rollover. The Sportage that the NHTSA tested came with dynamic front head restraints, adjustable upper seat belt anchors in the front seats, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for the front and rear, and front-seat pelvis air bags.
The Chevy Traverse ties the Sportage for 2nd place with its 15.5 percent rollover risk. The model that the NHTSA tested had adjustable upper seatbelt anchors in all three rows, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for all three rows and front seat torso air bags.
The 3rd-place SUV is the 2015 Kia Sorento. With its 16.4 percent chance of rolling over, it loses out to its little brother, but it's still safe and is roomier. The Sorento the NHTSA tested had dynamic head restraints for the driver and front-seat passenger, adjustable upper seat belt anchors in the front seats, dual front air bags, front and rear curtain air bags, and front-seat torso air bags.
The MDX ties the Sorento with a 16.4-percent chance of rollover. The model the government agency tested came with front seat dynamic headrests, adjustable upper anchors on the front seat belts, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for all three rows, front seat torso airbags and a driver-side knee airbag.
The Buick Enclave had a 16.9-percent chance of rolling over in the NHTSA's dynamic rollover test. The model tested had adjustable upper seat belt anchors in all three rows, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for all three rows and front torso air bags.
Since it's based on the same platform as the Traverse, it's no surprise to see the GMC Acadia make the list of safest SUVs for 2015. It matches the MDX's 16.9 percent chance of rollover in the NHTSA's test. Included on the NHTSA's tester were adjustable upper seat belt anchors for all three rows, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for all three rows of seating and torso air bags for the driver and front passenger.
Also checking in with a 16.9 percent chance of rollover is the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The model that the NHTSA tested had dynamic front headrests, adjustable upper seat belt anchors for the front seats, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for the first and second rows, torso air bags for the driver and front-seat passenger, and a driver-side knee air bag.
The Mazda CX-5 also had a 16.9 percent chance of rolling over in the dynamic rollover test. The CX-5 tested featured adjustable upper seat belt anchors up front, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for the front and rear, and driver and front-passenger torso air bags.
It's better to be last than not on the list at all, as the Mercedes-Benz M-Class -- the only German luxury SUV on the 10 safest SUVs list for 2015 -- secures the final spot with a 19.8 percent chance of rollover. The M-Class that the government car-crash experts tested came with dynamic front head restraints, adjustable upper seat belt anchors for the front seats, dual front air bags, curtain air bags for the front and rear seats, torso air bags for the front seats, and a driver-side knee airbag.
