Car manufacturers have been pushing the envelope to deliver the safest cars possible, incorporating cutting-edge technology and advanced safety features to protect drivers and passengers on the road. While plenty of vehicles tout their safety credentials, only a select few made the cut for Car and Driver’s coveted Safest Cars of 2022 list. So, let’s find out why only two Nissan models were deemed safe enough to earn a spot on this exclusive list.

The Nissan Altima is one of the safest cars of 2022

The safe 2022 Nissan Altima has been recognized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a Top Safety Pick+. This is the highest safety rating that the IIHS awards. It indicates that the Altima has performed well in various crashworthiness tests and has advanced safety features that effectively prevent accidents. Specifically, the Altima achieved good ratings in all crashworthiness tests, and its advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, were evaluated positively.

However, Car and Driver states that the Altima’s headlights did not earn a good rating from the IIHS. The updated LED and regular halogen projectors were regarded as barely acceptable. This means that while the Altima’s headlights are effective to some extent, they may not provide the best visibility in certain driving conditions. Despite this, the Altima remains a safe choice for a midsize sedan, with high marks in crashworthiness and advanced safety features.

Except for the headlights, the IIHS awards the 2022 Nissan Maxima a high safety rating

The 2022 Nissan Maxima is also a midsize sedan that the IIHS has evaluated for safety. Like the Altima, the Maxima earns top marks across the IIHS’s safety tests, with impressive scores in crashworthiness and advanced safety features. This makes it one of the safest cars of 2022. In particular, the Maxima fared well in all durability tests and obtained favorable scores. Its cutting-edge safety technologies, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, also worked as intended.

However, the Maxima’s headlight performance is the only exception, with the car’s standard LED units obtaining an acceptable rating, as previously discussed with the Altima.

The 2023 Nissan Altima got impressive ratings in various crash tests

According to the IIHS safety ratings for the 2023 Nissan Altima, the vehicle has performed exceptionally well in various crash tests. Regarding seat belts and child restraints, the Altima has received a good rating, indicating that occupants are well-protected in the event of a collision.

Furthermore, the Altima has been awarded a superior rating for front crash prevention using vehicle-to-vehicle technology, which is a testament to the car’s advanced safety features.

In the small overlap front tests, both for the driver and passenger sides, the Nissan Altima has received a good rating, indicating that the car’s structure and safety features perform well in scenarios where only a small portion of the front of the car collides with an obstacle. As expected of one of the safest cars of 2022 and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

Regarding the moderate overlap front test, the Altima received a good rating for the original test and was found to have reasonable head restraints. However, the high-beam assist feature received only an acceptable rating. While this is not the highest rating possible, it still means that the Altima’s high-beam assist performs reasonably well.

The 2023 Nissan Maxima also makes a promising option for the safest car

The 2023 Nissan Maxima also has a high-beam assist feature, automatically switching between high and low beams based on oncoming traffic and road conditions. This can help improve visibility while reducing glare for other drivers on the road.

Moving on to other safety ratings, the Maxima’s seat belt reminders have been rated as good by the IIHS. This means that the car is equipped with advanced safety systems that remind passengers to buckle up their seat belts to reduce the risk of injury during a collision.

Regarding crashworthiness, the Maxima has received good ratings for roof strength, which means that the car’s roof can withstand significant force in the event of a rollover accident, thereby reducing the risk of serious injury or death for occupants.

Between the Nissan Altima and Nissan Maxima, since both cars made this safest cars of 2022 list, you can’t make a bad safety choice between the two of them.