Sleek aerodynamic designs, powerful engines, luxurious interiors, and numerous state-of-the-art technological features at our fingertips – all these seem important for someone looking to buy a car.

Amidst all this, it is passenger safety that is top priority for car manufacturers. Millions of dollars is invested by them each year to provide a host of ultra hi-tech safety features to help detect, prevent and protect passengers from dangerous situations on the road.

Based on the evaluations of experts at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), here are a few names from the bigger list of Safest Cars of the year 2017:

• Chevrolet Volt
• Mazda 3
• Volkswagen Jetta
• Audi A4
• Lexus RC
• Toyota RAV4
• Honda Pilot
• Acura MDX
• Mercedes- Benz GLE- Class
• Chrysler Pacifica
• Honda Ridgeline
• Categorizing the cars according to their class and further, by their size, all vehicles that compete for the safe rating award from IIHS and the NHTSA, are put through five preliminary group of tests in order to make it to the first level of the safe list.

The moderate overlap frontal test, is where the car is run into a wall that, on impact, covers 40% of the front of the car. The small overlap frontal test is similar to the moderate overlap frontal test, except in this, the wall covers 25% of the car when hit. The side test assesses the sides of the vehicle upon impact after hitting an obstacle. Roof strength test is done to determine if the roof can deal with four times its own weight and yet maintain its ability to hold its shape during roll-overs in a crash. And finally, the head restraint test ensures the passenger’s neck is protected incase of a crash.

If a car passes these requirements, only then does it qualify for the next rank, to be on the list of topmost safe cars.

The front crash prevention tests are done to see if the computers in the car can actually prevent a frontal crash. And, headlights are checked for their quality of brightness to ensure drivers can spot obstacles from hundreds of yards away.

Newer technological improvements are constantly explored and designed as part of car safety elements every year. Along with paying for a host of add on features you might want for your prized possession, a new vehicle, do make the effort to ensure it is a safe ride for all and choose the best that would protect valuable lives.