How important is car safety when choosing a car?

[Sillytum]

I want a small car that my ex (child’s dad) says isn’t very safe. Is it something you consider when buying a car?

Size isn't relevant - have you checked the NCAP rating? That is what is important. If it's poor, don't buy.

Absolutely top of the list for me.

We always check the ratings before buying.
Also have a plus tested child car seat as child is under 6 so still rear facing.

Is it a Fiat 500?

Not very safe or very unsafe? Relatively high priority but other criteria may come into it. What car is it?

I would always research it myself, don't go off what your random ex thinks. I'd never buy a certain Dacia due to the drum brakes, for example, but other people think that's an acceptable risk. It all depends on how you feel when you look into it.

I've always assumed if they're sold in the UK they conform to our minimum safety standards and it must all be ok!

Very...I have a new Volvo SUV.

It’s a Citroen c1 from 2013
This is the ncap link www.euroncap.com/en/results/citroën/c1/10916

I'd only put my children in that car if it was that or hours and hours of public transport rendering life impossible. It's one of the smallest cars that exist and without proper rear doors it's just not worth it for me with my children. There's no way my children's Swedish plus tested rear facing seats would fit in it either so it's a no go

Yeah even I wouldn’t buy that, and I’m far from a safety guru e.g. my 2YO is forward facing. I’m not expert but I’d probably get a Polo if looking for something small, I used to have a 2012 model and it was a fab little car, until DH came along and couldn’t fit!

It would be very important for me, have you driven a C1 OP? We had one for a week when our car was in for repair, awful drive, we lived in a hilly area it didn’t cope well, pleased to get our car back.

Well it is not great. How about a Toyota Yaris (saw one after a collision and roll and the occupants were shaken but not seriously hurt) VW Polo or Renault Clio.

I didn't really think about it until my parked car was hit and folded like a cheap suit.

I bought a Volvo after that

I'll be honest I never even think about it. However my last couple of cars have all bring Range Rovers or other large SUV's, which tend to have a good safety rating and plenty of tech to avoid an accident in the first place. I crashed my last car, on a NSL road, it was written off. Whilst the car was unrecognisable, I escaped with a few cuts and bruises, out of hospital the same day.

Top priority - plus I don't think anyone could manage with kids and that car

Not a chance! I used to work in insurance and every car I have now has a sizeable boot to take the impact. I've seen small cars like that no longer have a back seat after a small whack. Big and ideally a Volvo. Nothing like them for safety.

Watch the crash videos on TikTok.

To be clear size and ncap rating! Jeep wranglers fold in a strong wind.

Do you really have to ask important safety is, especially when you have children in it? Isn’t it THE single most important factor??

I’ve got a fairly small car but I’m suddenly rethinking it after reading this thread.

However, yesterday I saw a newish Tesla and 4 young kids across the back, no car seats and no seat belts. That was a bit of a shock.

My fiat 500 was in a crash with a Volvo and the Volvo came off way worse

I have a mini now, I don't look at safety stuff

In the days when I owned a car never something I considered. Not one I think about when hiring a car nowadays.

Especially as there is no real driving standards enforcement and limited penalties. I think at least 25% of people who have a licence should not have one for various reasons.