Samir
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2006
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- Car(s)
- 2005 Honda Accord EX-L, 2002 Ford Mustang LX
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzcras195021595dec19,0,290724.story?coll=ny-business-print
I guess that's why everyone drives an SUV in the US. If ya can't beat'em, join'em! 8)
Minicars judged big safety risks
BY TOM INCANTALUPO
Newsday Staff Writer
December 19, 2006
Tiny cars that sip fuel might not be as good for your health as they are for the planet.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is releasing crash test results today for six minicars that find only one - the Nissan Versa - to be safe.
The institute, which represents insurance companies that must pay medical claims resulting from accidents, has always looked askance at small cars for their inherent disadvantages in crashes with larger ones. "Driver death rates in minicars are higher than in any other vehicle category," the institute said in a statement. "They're more than double the death rates in midsize and large cars."
The institute said the five other minicars it tested were either marginal or poor in one or two of three categories of safety, including the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Scion xB, Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Aveo. The group also re-issued test results for a seventh small car, BMW's Mini Cooper, which it said was "marginal" in rear impacts but noted is being replaced early next year with a redesigned model.
The institute said the Versa, which went on sale in July, did a good job in all three of the group's tests, which simulate a frontal impact into a barrier, a side-impact from a pickup truck or SUV and a rear impact by a vehicle of equal weight to the one being tested. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also gave the Versa a good rating.
The Mini did well in frontal and side tests but not in the rear impact Mini spokesman Andrew Cutler said, "Consumers need to be aware that this is for a car that is close to six years old ... "
The Fit and Yaris also did well in the front and side tests but the Fit was "poor" and the Yaris "marginal" in rear protection. Honda had no comment on the rear impact results.
A Yaris without its optional side air bags did poorly in the side test. Toyota says it will have side bags standard in all its vehicles by the 2009 model year.
The Accent performed acceptably in the frontal impact test but poorly in the side and rear impact evaluations. An eighth car, the similar Rio sold by Hyundai's Kia unit, was assumed to be as poor as the Accent in protecting occupants. There was no immediate comment from Hyundai.
The Aveo also was acceptable in the frontal test but marginal in side impacts, even with curtain air bags. It did poorly also in the rear impact evaluation. General Motors said in a statement, "The IIHS test results need to be considered with the Aveo's very good performance in other consumer information tests and the recognition that Aveo has been crash-tested internally many times under a multitude of test conditions."
Toyota had a similar comment in its response. "The IIHS side impact test is a very severe test," Toyota said in a statement, "much more severe than the test used by [the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.]
The Scion xB was deemed good in frontal protection, poor in side protection and marginal in rear impact protection. Side curtain air bags aren't available for it. The xB is being redesigned for the '08 model year.
Small and vulnerable
How minicars hold up in crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
G Good
M Marginal
A Acceptable
P Poor
Front Side Rear
Nissan Versa G G G
Toyota Yaris G G * M
Honda Fit G G P
Mini Cooper G A M
Chevrolet Aveo A M P
Scion xB G P M
Hyundai Accent/ A P P
Kia Rio
*With side airbags. Rating is "P" without airbags.
I guess that's why everyone drives an SUV in the US. If ya can't beat'em, join'em! 8)