Many factors are important in maximizing your benefit when purchasing a car or truck. Gas, hybrid or electric propulsion are considerations. Two doors four doors, convertibles, so many variables but perhaps the most important one involves safety.
Many people look to Consumer Report's evaluations of vehicles for reliability and safety but a no-cost alternative exists at The National Highway Transporation Safety Administration's website in their so-called 5 Star Safety Ratings. See: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings
NHTSA has been around for more than fifty years and started testing and rating vehciles back in 1978. The 5 Star Safety Rating System came into existence in 1993 and has evolved since then to encompass more sorts of crash scenarios including frontal crashes, side barrier and pole crashes and rollover resistance scenarios.
The web interface is pretty good and it is interesting and useful to compare seemingly comparable vehicles. For example, a 2007 Honda Accord generally performs well with 5 stars for frontal crashes but 4 stars for side crashes and rollovers. Buya 2012 and it's 5 star across the board.
Thinking about a 2020 Jeep Renegade or Compass, don't roll them over or the 3 star rating on rollover might harm you. The bottom line the information is easily accessible and potentially important.
