In 1997 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that small vehicles weren’t as safe as large vehicles. Yet, we are in an era of small cars. Making a car small isn’t the only way to reduce emissions and make a vehicle more fuel-efficient. New construction materials that are lighter can perform this feat on larger cars. Actually, making a car lighter improves its safety. A lightweight vehicle is much more nimble than a vehicle that is heavy. This means that drivers are able to avoid accidents. Of course, all drivers want to protect their car with an auto warranty because you never know when an accident might occur.

People tend to assume that the size and weight of a car go hand in hand. An automaker can get rid of the girth of a vehicle easiest by shrinking it. For them, it’s the least expensive way. Strong materials that are light, such as carbon fiber are very expensive. However, some automakers that are high-end are starting to implement it on hoods and roofs. The Smart ForTwo car uses door panels that are plastic. These don’t scratch or ding, and the inner part of the door is reinforced with steel bars. This provides the best protection for a side impact, but is much lighter than a conventional door.

Small car sales are on the rise in the U.S., yet are much slower than the other parts of the world. The Big Three are resisting the push for small vehicles. Currently, the Fit and the Yaris are the top selling subcompacts in America. Customers will have to shell out more money for lightweight, big vehicles, yet it is worth it to be safe. Of course, with any vehicle the best thing that you can do to protect your investment is purchase an auto warranty. Small or big, repairs are costly in any vehicle.