The five safest cars to hire for your next family road trip
Hiring a luxury car is an experience like no other. Whether you have a penchant for long winding road trips or need to impress your next client, access to the finest vehicles on the market affords you something truly unique. Some may find themselves drawn to specific models because of their sleek, iconic silhouette. Others may wish to feel the rumble of expertly crafted power beneath their feet as they soar around racing tracks. However, for many of us and especially those travelling with family, the key deciding factor is safety. How safe are the luxury cars you have pinned on your mental wish list? In this article, we’ll delve into 5 of the safest cars that will bring a new level of security and peace of mind during your next family road trip.
Embrace electric power with the impressively safe Tesla Model 3
With their pole position placement at the forefront of electronic automotive design, Tesla leads the way in our list of safe luxury cars. Founder, Elon Musk, has long been heard describing the Model 3 as the safest car ever tested against US regulations. While these statements have been challenged throughout the industry, it is down to semantics rather than truth. The vehicle has earned the highest accolade when it comes to vehicle safety – the Top Safety Pick+. To achieve this, cars must gain ‘Good’ ratings in every crashworthiness test. And, the Model 3 did this in abundance.
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTA) may have asked Musk to cease from his exceeding statements, they have indeed praised the marque for offering exceptionally high safety technology, as standard. Interestingly, it is due to the electronic battery that these vehicles are hailed as so secure on the roads. The floor installed battery allows for a much larger front and rear crumple zone. In the event of a collision, the bonnet can wrap around harder objects, instead of impacting against engine components or the gas tank. This battery placement also centralises the vehicle’s weight, making it incredibly hard to roll. Research has shown that the Tesla Model 3 has only a 6.06% chance of rolling in a severe collision.
The chassis of the vehicle is another defining factor. The passenger compartment is surrounded by thick aluminium and steel pillars. While car roofs are notoriously thin and offer little protection to passengers, the Model 3 boasts a double-layered hardened glass roof with thermoplastic coating. Even the battery itself has been honed to prevent overheating from spreading and causing fires. With Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Avoidance also included as standard, the Tesla provides an undeniably safe ride – with the space to accommodate you, your family and your suitcases for a weekend away too.
Luxury and safety combined with the Mercedes Benz S-Class
The Mercedes Benz S-Class has been hailed as having some of the world’s most advanced safety features available on the market. And, there are many reasons to argue in favour of this notion. The marque has released a number of signature cars onto the market that have also received the Top Safety Pick+ awards due to the abundance of tailored technology. The S-Class continues this focus, particularly with the E-Active Body Control system. When a side collision is detected, the active suspension raises the car by up to 80mm. This allows for the harder and more resilient part to bear the brunt of the accident, improving safety for passengers and minimising overall damage. An Emergency Call System also alerts the emergency services immediately if you are involved in a serious collision and gets help to you as quickly as possible.
Inside the vehicle and you’ll discover features such as the Exit Warning System. Using sensors, it detects when you reach for the door handle before analysing the road situation and preventing you from opening into on-coming traffic. As you settle in, 8 standard airbags, including frontal airbags for the passengers, provide the ultimate in protection. This car continues to be one of our most popular for luxury chauffeur experiences and the safety of everyone inside must be a focal priority. Traffic sign recognition, driver monitoring and attention assist are also at your fingertips.
Finally, the best way to prevent accidents or injury on the road is to have good control over a vehicle. Hiring a Mercedes Benz S-Class means you’ll have rear-axle steering at your disposal, allowing you to move with more agility and control in parking and on-road situations. From pick-ups at the airport in your dream luxury car hire to family staycations with the entire family, the S-Class is an impressively safe (and spacious) model to add to your wish list.
Trust in reliable German manufacture and hire a Porsche Panamera
For many, gripping the wheel of a Porsche sits high up there with the most desirable experiences in the world. Dating back to 1948 the iconic luxury car manufacturer has become synonymous with breathtakingly beautiful vehicles that out-perform and delight their drivers. The Porsche Panamera is one of their most elusive vehicles, with just 6,625 sold in 2020. It is this exclusivity that makes them so desirable, but also means that they are unlikely to be put through regulatory crash-testing. Regardless, the Panamera has been hailed by many industry experts as an impressively safe vehicle.
The brakes are its showstopping feature. For models fitted with the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB), they have an increased front and rear diameter that provides improved braking force. Aluminium monoblock fixed brake callipers enable the car to come to achieve shorter braking distances while maintaining a low overall weight. Collectively, this results in better road-handling and increased comfort, even on the most uneven of grounds.
Hiring a Porsche Panamera also affords you an active bonnet. In the event of a pedestrian impact, this pops up and offers cushioning to both parties. Front knee airbags and full-length curtain airbags deploy during serious collisions while features such as electronic stability control and rear ISOFIX child-seat mounting poles allow you to drive with the whole family in exceptional comfort. Staycations or long-road trips needn’t be something to dread when you can do so with the power of Porsche under your feet and the assurance of safety with every mile.
Domineer the road in style and safety with the Rolls Royce Phantom
Rolls Royce is a luxury car hire marque that has built an unrelenting reputation for exceptional comfort and presence. Chosen by the British Royal Family and revered by dignitaries the world over, they are rarely seen on the roads but highly admired when spotted. The Rolls Royce Phantom is a beacon within the range, individually handcrafted to suit the client’s needs. With this keen attention to detail comes a host of safety equipment there to support the driver – or, more often, the chauffeur – in manoeuvring this vehicle safely throughout the roads.
The most notable feature is the vehicle’s sheer size. A combination of rigid aluminium structures and tailored rigidity make it an impressive and highly visible presence on the road. The chassis is well-known to be strong while an industry-leading heads-up display ensures that the driver can comfortably keep their eyes on the road at all times. The vehicle is also well equipped with safety features and technologies throughout. Forward Collision Warning utilises an inbuilt radar in the front grill to alert in the event of a potential collision. Lane Departure Warnings help you to navigate the vehicle to the centre of a lane while Adaptive Cruis Control regulates speed and suspension for safety and comfort.
At the disposal of the driver, Electronic Stability Control reviews the slip noted at each wheel. If needed, it will automatically apply the breaks to re-gain grip and reduce the degree of traction loss. For off-road driving (or on roads that require repair), the Adaptive Air Suspension System independently scans the road to detect potholes and adjusts the suspension accordingly. This results in a silky smooth drive at all times – one that is ideally suited for on-road conference calls or moments of calm in your busy day.
On-road or off-road safety with the Range Rover
The final vehicle on our list is the Range Rover Vogue, which has achieved a 5* Euro NCAP safety rating. As one of the most recognisable 4x4s for hire seen on the roads, the Vogue is a signature offering within the marque’s line-up and remains popular for those travelling long-distance. It isn’t just its ability to adapt to different terrains or the knowledge that off-roading becomes a realistic possibility. The vehicle also has a host of safety features designed to keep the driver and passengers comfortable and secure for the entire journey.
The Vogue is a large vehicle that rises above many others on the road. It also has a lightweight but strong aluminium shell that wraps around the passenger cabin and offers protection in the event of an impact. In fact, in NCAP findings, it has a 91% rating for adult occupant protection and 86% for safety assist. The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system utilises forward-facing cameras built into the car. These detect vehicles and certified target objects as certified by the NCAP. Its advanced programming is there to prevent or significantly reduce the risk of frontal collisions. When travelling between 3 and 50mph, the brakes will automatically apply, eliminating the risk of human error. On top of this, you’ll have advanced traction control to prevent sliding and slipping on different terrains and a full set of airbags to cushion in an emergency.
Prestige car hire from Starr Luxury Cars
Hiring a luxury car for your next family staycation should be an experience to enjoy – a pre-emptor for the holiday itself. At Starr Luxury Cars, we offer a highly tailored and professional service that aims to remove worries and complications from your trip. As such, our large and ever-growing fleet of prestige cars for hire include some of the safest and more reliable vehicles on the market. Suitable for every journey, from a weekend in Cornwall to 7-days in the Scottish Pennines, our friendly team can pair you with the ideal vehicle for you and your party. This includes helping you to book a chauffeur hire with one of our well-presented, courteous and professional drivers to create a memory you won’t forget.
If you are looking for the most suited prestige hire car or luxury chauffeur driven vehicle, please call us on 02036001631 (24 Hours) or email sales@starrluxurycars.com and we will be happy to help!
If you are still undecided on which luxury vehicle you want to hire, please click here to view our fleet online.