Filed under: Safety, Hatchbacks, MINI
IIHS posts results on crashed Cooper, front rating 'good'
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The only test conducted so far was the frontal offset crash, which received the 'Good' rating for all but the head/neck portion that was categorized as 'Average.' The reason for the middle-of-the-road rating was due to the IIHS's dummy hitting its head against the steering wheel through the airbag (ouch!), and although the Institute observed the dummy striking the roof rail on rebound, it still classified the MINI's restraint system as 'Good,' since the impact was "negligible."
You can read the IIHS press release in full by clicking the 'Read' link below.
[Source: IIHS]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick 8:12PM (8/24/2007)
Wow. That sounds kinda terrible.
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SPG 8:26PM (8/24/2007)
Wow, that really sucks for Mini drivers.
On a side note I just found out that the rating for my car is not as good as I originally thought it was.
It left me with a bizzare feeling.
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Dax 8:42PM (8/24/2007)
Good is the highest possible rating...it is in no way "terrible".
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Nick 2:10AM (8/25/2007)
Do you want your face to contact the steering wheel, and the back of your head hit the roof rail? I certainly don't.
Dax 6:53PM (8/25/2007)
The IIHS states CLEARLY that the impact is "negligible." Meaning the impact will not cause damage to the face or head
Erik 8:50PM (8/25/2007)
Agreed... this whole dealie is sounding kinda silly.
Nick 11:31PM (8/25/2007)
The roof rail hit was negligible. The face into the steering wheel was not:
"A high head acceleration occurred when the dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag, indicating that head injuries would be possible."
German engineering at its finest!
seoultrain 9:34PM (8/24/2007)
Just a thought. Do these crash tests only crash one car for each impact type? seems like you'd need to conduct at least two or three to have any type of definitive safety rating.
Well, I guess that's why there's IIHS and NHTSA. and Euro NCAP.
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K Smith 12:06AM (8/25/2007)
The head/neck portion was not categorized as 'Average' - in the IIHS ratings "A" = "acceptable.
Also note that this car got a "good" rating in that area for the 2006 and earlier model years. I guess it got worse after they redesigned it?
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Richard 4:10AM (8/25/2007)
Too small it is.
I live in the city and would love to drive something this small, but I have a seven-year-old and plans to stick around for a while.
When they make this with a carbon-fibre tub I'll be interested.
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GhostDoggy 10:27AM (8/26/2007)
Do people actually by the Mini thinking that is the Volvo of safety? Heck, not even all Volvo owners drive with safety in mind, what should we think about Mini drivers?
You want to drive a go-cart around on the big highways, then prepared to get squished like a bug. If you want safety, install five-point restraint system on a land yacht.
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Barney 10:40AM (8/26/2007)
It's funny how things turn arround. A few decades ago, Ford couldn't sell safety. Seatbelts & padded dash was an option few would buy. How many safety devices would people pay for, if it wasn't a standard item today? At one time, the count of coffee cup holders was the big seller.
If your car doesn't have the most recent safety devices, get out and walk. (Be sure to where a safety vest when you do)
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