As Gas Prices Rise, Cars Shrink

With gasoline prices soaring, many American are giving up gas-hungry SUVs and larger cars in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

But does downsizing mean a downgrade in safety?

Smaller cars have made significant strides in government and independent safety tests, but many are still riskier than some of their big brothers, experts say.

“In general, any time you have weight and velocity on your side, you’re going to win,” said Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute in Washington, D.C. “If you’re in a larger car and it’s one that tests well by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, you’re going to be safer than if you’re in a smaller car.”

Safety advances

Still, many smaller cars are safer than ever. Thanks to the advent of safety features such as side-impact airbags and electronic stability control, several small cars score five-star ratings across the board in tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Also keep in mind that taller, bigger vehicles have a much higher risk of flipping over, exposing occupants to a risk that is not as prevalent with smaller cars.

Making the choice

So caught between gas prices, rollover risk and crash tests, what’s a car-shopping consumer to do?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the brochure “Buying a Safer Car.”

The brochure explains the significance of several safety features, including seatbelts, anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring systems. It’s available for free at www.safercar.gov.

Weigh all those factors against your driving habits and what type of environment you’ll typically be traveling in.

“You also have to think about how you drive, when you drive, and where you drive and decide which car you think is the best match,” Gorman said.

Size and fuel efficiency?

Those wrestling with the size versus safety issue may find a happy compromise. Some mid-sized and larger vehicles boast comparable gas mileage to many of their compact counterparts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Department of Energy has launched a Web site, www.fueleconomy.gov, where consumers can search for specific vehicles or see a chart comparing fuel efficiency for all vehicles by model year and size class.