inexpensive used car that has safety features like warning about nearby threats

[Anonymous]

What's an inexpensive used car that has safety features like warning about nearby threats.

I don't care about luxury at all, but I do want to be saved from a crash

[Anonymous]

Hi OP!

You need to specify which safety features interest you.

Your post is not clear whether you want on-road detection or theft prevention.

The most basic sensor is "Side Blind Zone Assist". It puts an icon in the side view mirror if a car is in your blind spot.

Another pretty basic one is "Lane Keep Assist". This alerts you with a sound or vibration if you are crossing over a lane marking when you are not signaling and/or the car seems to be drifting out of its lane.

Theft prevention is based on cameras and motion detectors.

Among used cars, look for cars newer than 8 years old and look for the top trim version. Look for words like "Safety & Security Package". Make sure you road test the vehicle and have proof the features you want are really on the car (icons light up, there are on/off buttons, menus, etc.). Safety packages vary a lot over time and from brand to brand. That's because they are expensive added equipment and run up the price of the car. On the car I'm driving now, the Safety Package added $2K to the price of a car.

Do you have a preference for size of car and bodystyle? How much do you want to drive per year?

I would recommend that you look at a mid-size, non-luxury brand sedan.

[Anonymous]

My ford edge is awesome, so sad they aren't going to make this after this year. There's crash alert (if you're about to hit something/rear end someone) and has cameras that alert you for blind spots or if you're backing up and there's an oncoming car. I can parallel park that thing just using the sensors.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

I was thinking about collision safety protection.

I assume no one is stealing my dirty old car.

[Anonymous]

And I like small cars / hatchbacks since they are easier to maneuver and harder to hit.

[Anonymous]

Automated emergency braking is, to my mind, the most important safety feature after a full complement of airbags and a strong passenger compartment. It usually is paired with adaptive cruise control, using the same sensor to detect excessive closing speed and applying the brakes if the driver fails to do so.

[Anonymous]

What does inexpensive mean to you?

I have a 2017 Subaru with Eyesight, blind spot detection.

[Anonymous]

Nearby threats?? LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Automated emergency braking is, to my mind, the most important safety feature after a full complement of airbags and a strong passenger compartment. It usually is paired with adaptive cruise control, using the same sensor to detect excessive closing speed and applying the brakes if the driver fails to do so.

Do you drive differently knowing these features are there?

[Anonymous]

CX-30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Automated emergency braking is, to my mind, the most important safety feature after a full complement of airbags and a strong passenger compartment. It usually is paired with adaptive cruise control, using the same sensor to detect excessive closing speed and applying the brakes if the driver fails to do so.

Do you drive differently knowing these features are there?

Not really. I use adaptive cruise on highways, as it adjusts vehicle speed to traffic flow without me having to be constantly making tiny throttle adjustments myself. That helps with minimizing fatigue, but I'm still steering and monitoring traffic for people changing lanes in front of me and so on. Automated emergency braking does a couple of things: it brakes for you if you're momentarily distracted or inattentive, which can happen no matter how good we think we are as drivers, or in situations as when you look over your shoulder before changing lanes and a car in front of you chooses that moment to slam on the brakes, and it applies the brakes with greater force than you might on your own - it's a common phenomenon that people tend to not brake hard enough in an emergency situation. Most people rarely brake hard or practice emergency braking, and in an emergency they brake like they normally do. With antilock brakes, it's possible to brake very hard indeed without losing control, but you have you really put your foot into it, which many people do not. Automated emergency braking will apply the brakes forcefully if it detects an imminent crash, even if you're already applying some brake pressure short of maximum.

[Anonymous]

Nearby threats? What’s that mean?

Carjackers? Drunks? Potheads? Squeegee guys? Uninsured drivers? Anyone in Nissan Altimas?


Those are the biggest threats as far as I’m concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Automated emergency braking is, to my mind, the most important safety feature after a full complement of airbags and a strong passenger compartment. It usually is paired with adaptive cruise control, using the same sensor to detect excessive closing speed and applying the brakes if the driver fails to do so.

Do you drive differently knowing these features are there?

Not really. I use adaptive cruise on highways, as it adjusts vehicle speed to traffic flow without me having to be constantly making tiny throttle adjustments myself. That helps with minimizing fatigue, but I'm still steering and monitoring traffic for people changing lanes in front of me and so on. Automated emergency braking does a couple of things: it brakes for you if you're momentarily distracted or inattentive, which can happen no matter how good we think we are as drivers, or in situations as when you look over your shoulder before changing lanes and a car in front of you chooses that moment to slam on the brakes, and it applies the brakes with greater force than you might on your own - it's a common phenomenon that people tend to not brake hard enough in an emergency situation. Most people rarely brake hard or practice emergency braking, and in an emergency they brake like they normally do. With antilock brakes, it's possible to brake very hard indeed without losing control, but you have you really put your foot into it, which many people do not. Automated emergency braking will apply the brakes forcefully if it detects an imminent crash, even if you're already applying some brake pressure short of maximum.

Thank you for your well thought out reply.

I’ve had some rentals with advanced safety features. Some I couldn’t really trust as I was never confident how they work. Will my car stop/brake for me if I approach car in front of me too quickly? I ended up just ignoring it. Some had that lane change warning where if I came too close to edge it would nudge me back. I would get nudged even if I was in middle of lane and car sensed road condition that it though was lane line. (Think construction zone.) I dislike that lane feature and turn it off but I will admit I left in on while driving first time in Ireland! The blind spot warning is nice but I always still turn my head when I change lanes. I do this when I’m a passenger too as it’s ingrained in me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nearby threats?? LOL.

Gas station bollards kill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Automated emergency braking is, to my mind, the most important safety feature after a full complement of airbags and a strong passenger compartment. It usually is paired with adaptive cruise control, using the same sensor to detect excessive closing speed and applying the brakes if the driver fails to do so.

Do you drive differently knowing these features are there?

Not really. I use adaptive cruise on highways, as it adjusts vehicle speed to traffic flow without me having to be constantly making tiny throttle adjustments myself. That helps with minimizing fatigue, but I'm still steering and monitoring traffic for people changing lanes in front of me and so on. Automated emergency braking does a couple of things: it brakes for you if you're momentarily distracted or inattentive, which can happen no matter how good we think we are as drivers, or in situations as when you look over your shoulder before changing lanes and a car in front of you chooses that moment to slam on the brakes, and it applies the brakes with greater force than you might on your own - it's a common phenomenon that people tend to not brake hard enough in an emergency situation. Most people rarely brake hard or practice emergency braking, and in an emergency they brake like they normally do. With antilock brakes, it's possible to brake very hard indeed without losing control, but you have you really put your foot into it, which many people do not. Automated emergency braking will apply the brakes forcefully if it detects an imminent crash, even if you're already applying some brake pressure short of maximum.

A bit off topic, but I figured that braking hard on the highway can save your front but increases the risk of the car behind you rear ending you, because everybody tailgates and not everyone has automated emergency braking