2012 Annual Auto Issue: Best cars for braking

Good brakes are critical for controlling a car and avoiding accidents. In our tests, we measure dry and wet braking to assess how each vehicle compares to its competition, and we find there can be significant variation from the best to the worst performers.

To measure how cars do in this important test area, our automotive engineers conduct a series of tests, bringing a car from 60 mph to zero on wet and dry pavement. To collect the data, each test car is rigged with a pavement-scanning optical device that records precise stopping times and distances. We also judge brake-pedal modulation.

Our current results show notable variance between the best and worst vehicles, with the extremes separated by 39 ft. To put that in perspective, if a trio of the best-stopping Porsche Boxsters were traveling at 60 mph, trailed by a bumper-riding Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, and all vehicles applied the brakes with maximum force, the Jeep would be theoretically halt atop the leading Porsche. The differences are so severe they could be measured in car lengths.

To see the best and worst cars in braking, check out the list below. For more detailed information on performance, visit the respective model overview pages.