Consumer Reports recently released which cars have the best and worst visibility according to road tests. Unrestricted visibility is extremely important while driving. An unobstructed view is needed to avoid dangerous road hazards and to be aware of others on the road. However, many vehicles out on the road today have poorer visibility than you may think. This is due to the fact that people are looking for style over functionality, and sometimes safety.
Consumer Reports did extensive road test evaluations on different vehicles. Drivers of different sizes rated how they could see when looking forward, to the rear, to the sides, and when using mirrors. Consumer Reports then calculated a visibility score and put together their list of the best and worst for visibility. Here are the lists:
Cars with Best Visibility
- Subaru Forester: The Forester embraces its boxy style with big windows and thin roof pillars to bring you great visibility. Add the big side mirrors and a backup camera, which are now standard, and you’ve got some great help with visibility. Additionally, crash test results are excellent with his model.
- Subaru Outback: Same goes for the Outback as it did for the Forester, the large windows optimize visibility and make it easy to see out the back and minimize blind spots. Also, it too comes with a backup camera, and blind-spot monitoring is an option in the Premium version of the vehicle. Add to that, the vehicle rides comfortably and has all-wheel drive.
- Subaru Legacy: The Subaru style of big windows is present in this vehicle as well, and the thin pillars provide it with the best visibility of any midsized sedan according to Consumer Reports.
- Land Rover Range Rover: This car allows for you to sit up high while you are surrounded by large vertical windows to provide you with excellent visibility. The windshield pillars are thin which creates a panoramic view out the front and side windows.
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport: This is just the sporty version of the Range Rover, so it has the same overall build. However, vision out the back is somewhat limited as it is blocked by large rear-seat head restraints. Large side mirrors help with the back view, as well as the standard rear camera.
- Honda Fit: This car’s hatchback design allows for great visibility. The windows are large for a subcompact car and the roof pillars are fairly thin. Plus, the sail window at the bottom of the windshield pillars gives you greater visibility than most. The rear seat head restraints fold down when not in use, which will help for viewing out the back. Additionally, the door mirrors are large and helpful.
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class: This vehicle has a large back window which provides good visibility, even with the high rear package shelf and read head restraints. There are some complaints concerning the backup camera as it doesn’t appear when the radio is off.
- Honda Accord: With its upright styling, thin roof pillars, and low beltline, the Accord has great visibility. It also comes with a standard backup camera with a large center screen for the display. Added bonus, it has a camera on the passenger side mirror that shows the right-hand flank of the car in the center-dash screen when the right-side turn signal is in use. However, a full blind spot monitoring system, which is not included, is better, according to Consumer Reports.
- Nissan Altima: The Altima also has large windows that provide for easy visibility. However, the high rear deck does limit some visibility out the back. A rear camera is standard for most models and you can also get blind-spot monitoring on higher level trims.
Cars with Worst Visibility
- Nissan Z
- Porsche Boxster
- Honda CR-Z
- Buick Encore
- Infiniti QX70
- Toyota Tundra
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Smart ForTwo
- Jeep Wrangler
Common traits among the vehicles with the worst visibility are thick pillars, small back windows, and short windows, all impeding visibility. Other cars, like the Honda CR-Z, which has a horizontally split window, creates poor rear visibility. And the Jeep Wrangler has a high dashboard and long hood that interferes with sight in the front, and thick pillars, an outside spare tire, and windshield wiper motors which interfere with the view in the rear.
What do you think? Are these the best and worst cars for visibility? We hope you consider a car’s visibility for your next purchase. It can help prevent potential car crashes.
If you enjoyed this blog you may also be interested in the following:
