Four SUVs Get Poor Safety Ratings

Labeled "acceptable" were the 2010 Nissan Xterra, Toyota FJ Cruiser and Toyota 4Runner. The Nissan Pathfinder was rated as "marginal."
None received a "good" rating, which means a roof can withstand a force equal to at least 4 times the vehicle's weight.
For an "acceptable" rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A "marginal" rating value is 2.5. Anything lower is "poor."
Meanwhile, the 2011 Kia Sportage was recently named a Top Safety Pick by the institute, as was its twin the Hyundai Tucson.
Other Kia vehicles to be named top picks are: the 2010 Forte, 2010 Soul, and 2011 Sorento. In order to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation a vehicle must earn a "good" rating in the front, side, rear and rollover crash-safety tests.
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar, Edmunds, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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