Study: Rental Cars Not As Safe as They Seem
Monday, 14 March 2011 | by Pat's Picks

If you’re like most people, safety comes second to price when choosing a rental car. But a USA Today analysis shows that while most vehicles owned by US rental companies fare well in head-on collisions, they leave much to be desired when it comes to side and rear collisions. As a general rule, renters are better off paying a little extra for a “bigger, heavier” vehicle.
Here’s the paper’s list of the safest cars to rent.