Autoblog

2010 Top Safety Picks announced by IIHS, new roof strength rule shakes things up

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has once again announced the winners of its Top Safety Pick award - all 27 of them. This time out, 19 cars and eight SUVs made the all-important grade. To break it down a bit for you, Subaru is the only make to earn top marks in each of the classes in which it competes (four), winning a total of five awards. Ford and Volvo combined to take home six Top Safety Pick awards (the most of any automaker), VW/Audi comes away with five and Chrysler gets four. Added to this year's safe list in the small car segment are also two new competitors, the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul.

New for 2010 are more stringent rollover standards used in the evaluations by the IIHS, a tweak which is apparently responsible for keeping Toyota, the world's biggest automaker in terms of sales, from receiving a single award - even though last year, between Toyota, Lexus and Scion there were eleven winners. BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Saab were also absent from the list for the same reason, as the was the Ford Fusion. The Toyota Camry, meanwhile, didn't make the cut because of a marginal rear crash rating. All 27 winners - and a full press release - can be found after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading 2010 Top Safety Picks announced by IIHS, new roof strength rule shakes things up

2010 Top Safety Picks announced by IIHS, new roof strength rule shakes things up originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: IIHS reveals before and after of Malibu/Bel Air crash

John Neff — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:49:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Chevrolet

IIHS '09 Malibu vs. '59 Bel Air crash test - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're all well aware of the video released recently by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. You know the one. Modern Chevy Malibu versus vintage Chevy Bel Air. Crash test. The results speak for themselves (see the video again after the jump). The two cars, one a 1959 model and the other from 2009, illustrate exactly how far vehicle safety has come in the 50 years since the IIHS was founded. There are two others dates you should know. 1972 was when the IIHS launched the Highway Loss Data Institute and began collecting objective data on insurance losses. The other date is 1992 when the Vehicle Research Center was opened and the IIHS began crashing cars.

In addition to the aforementioned video, the IIHS has also just released a gallery of images, before and after if you will, of the two cars involved in the celebratory crash. Note the passenger compartment of the '09 Malibu, which stays completely intact, versus the Bel Air that crumbles like a cereal box. Thanks for the tip, Derrick!

Gallery: IIHS '09 Malibu vs. '59 Bel Air crash test

[Source: IIHS]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: IIHS reveals before and after of Malibu/Bel Air crash

Pics Aplenty: IIHS reveals before and after of Malibu/Bel Air crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: IIHS celebrates 50th anniversary by crashing modern Malibu into '59 Bel Air

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Sedan, Safety, Videos, Chevrolet

2009 Chevy Malibu versus 1959 Chevy Bel Air - Click above to watch the video after the break

They just don't build 'em like they used to. While that old saying is constantly bandied about in regards to modern-day cars and trucks, it's once again worth saying and was the first thing that popped into our heads after watching the video pasted after the break.

You see, most of the time, we like to think of our old automobiles as tank-like hunks of metal with full frames and acres of dead space in front of the driver and the massive chrome front bumper. While that may often be the case, all those thick bits of steel don't automatically equal safety. This point is driven home by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which decided to celebrate its 50th anniversary by crash testing a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air into a 2009 Chevy Malibu. The results were eye-opening. Says the IIHS of the Bel Air's performance:

The dummy's head struck the steering wheel rim and hub and then the roof and unpadded metal instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.... The windshield was completely dislodged from the car and the driver door opened during the crash, both presenting a risk of ejection. In addition, the front bench seat was torn away from the floor on the driver side.

Ouch.... an instant death according to the IIHS. And the '09 Malibu? "A high acceleration was recorded on the left foot, indicating that foot injuries would be possible." Well now, as much as we like our left foot (perfect for operating the clutch, ya know), we'd rather take our chances in the new car, thank you very much. Click past the break to watch the video in all its car-crushing glory, and take a moment to mourn the passing of what used to be a rather nice '59 Bel Air.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: IIHS celebrates 50th anniversary by crashing modern Malibu into '59 Bel Air

VIDEO: IIHS celebrates 50th anniversary by crashing modern Malibu into '59 Bel Air originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lincoln MKT earns Top Safety Pick from IIHS

Chris Shunk — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST

2010 Lincoln MKT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has dumped all of its latest safety gadgets into the already structurally sound 2010 Lincoln MKT, and the Blue Oval's engineering labor appears to have paid off as the luxury crossover has just scored a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The Top Pick status of the 5,000 lb MKT doesn't come as a surprise, as it is mechanically identical to the well-regarded Ford Flex.

The MKT scored a "Good" rating in each category, including structure, injury measures and restraints. The IIHS added that "dummy movement was well controlled. After the dummy moved forward into the airbag, it rebounded into the seat without its head coming close to any stiff structure that could cause injury."

The Lincoln MKT comes with standard equipment like an advanced structural safety system that combines octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and support members that are designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment. Along with the usual safety suspects like side curtain airbags, Ford offers optional safety equipment like Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning Brake Control and a Blind Spot Information system. Hit the jump to read the Ford press release.

Gallery: 2010 Lincoln MKT

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Lincoln MKT earns Top Safety Pick from IIHS

Lincoln MKT earns Top Safety Pick from IIHS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru Legacy and Outback, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring new IIHS Top Safety Picks

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Safety, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge, Subaru

Four 2010 model year vehicles have just been awarded Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Subaru's Outback and Legacy, the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler's Sebring. Top Safety Picks are given to those vehicles that come equipped with electronic stability control and receive front, side, and rear crash test ratings of 'Good' in IIHS testing.

The Legacy has boasted a 'Good' rating for a few years now, while the all-new Outback takes the cake on its first try. The Sebring and Avenger continue their runs of 'Good' form in their current generations.

[Source: IIHS]

Subaru Legacy and Outback, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring new IIHS Top Safety Picks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS tests roof strength on microcars, Smart Fortwo comes out on top

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Mini, Smart, Toyota

IIHS microcar roof tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just tested the latest batch of the smallest cars on the market to determine the strength of their roofs in the event of a rollover accident. Coming out on top with a "good" rating was the Smart Fortwo, which isn't all that surprising - due in large part to the runabout's diminutive size, Daimler put lots of effort into the design of its so-called Tridion safety cell.

Somehow, we're equally as unsurprised that the Chevy Aveo scored the lowest of the six automobiles tested. Chevy's least expensive car earned a "marginal" rating from the Institute. Sitting in between those two bookends were the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mini Cooper, and Toyota Yaris, all of which scored "acceptable" ratings.

It's interesting to note that the Smart Fortwo fared quite a bit better in this kind of test than in the Institute's series of frontal offset crash tests versus a Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan. Click past the break for the official press release.

Gallery: IIHS microcar roof tests

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS tests roof strength on microcars, Smart Fortwo comes out on top

IIHS tests roof strength on microcars, Smart Fortwo comes out on top originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Soul, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight earn IIHS Top Safety Pick awards

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Safety, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda, Kia, Toyota

IIHS 2010 small car crash tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

News comes today by way of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that the 2010 Kia Soul, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight have all earned the group's coveted Top Safety Pick Award. That means each of the three vehicles managed to score the agency's highest rating of good in front, side, and rear tests and are equipped with electronic stability control (standard on the Prius and Soul, optional on the Insight).

Of course, this news also means that hybrid vehicle shoppers can rest assured knowing whichever hybrid hatchback happens to be on their wish list is a safe bet. See below for our complete galleries of the Kia Soul and Honda Insight being crash tested by the IIHS. No photos of the 2010 Toyota Prius crash test were available from the IIHS.

Gallery: IIHS 2010 Small Car Crash Testing

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Kia Soul, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight earn IIHS Top Safety Pick awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS tests two-door coupes, ratings mostly positive

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Safety, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Scion, Volvo

IIHS 2009 two-door crash tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

It comes as little surprise that two-door automobiles perform differently when crash tested than their four-door stablemates, particularly in side crashes. Due to the vastly different structural makeup of coupes versus sedans, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has decided to test both two- and four-door versions of automobiles for 2009, and the results aren't always predictable.

For instance, the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe joins Volvo's 2009 C30 as a two-door vehicle that earns the agency's Top Safety Pick rating, yet the four-door Focus scored a lower Acceptable rating in previous IIHS side crash testing. Conversely, the 2009 Honda Civic flips those ratings with the newly-tested coupe garnering an Acceptable side crash score versus the sedan's Top Safety Pick rating.

While the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Scion tC and Volvo C30 all performed fairly well in both frontal and side crash testing, the tC was judged the poorest performer overall and was the only vehicle that failed to earn either a Good or Acceptable rating for rear crash protection. Check out the gallery of smashed-up coupes below and see the official press release after the break for additional details on the testing results.

Gallery: IIHS 2009 Two-Door Crash Tests

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS tests two-door coupes, ratings mostly positive

IIHS tests two-door coupes, ratings mostly positive originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS: Small car bumpers cost big bucks to repair

Dan Roth — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Government/Legal, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mini, Toyota, Carsumer Advocacy

Driving a small car in the urban environs they're so well suited for can add up in big repair bills, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Low speed incidents in parking lots and on tight city streets are everyday occurrences that seemingly shouldn't cost a lot to set right, but they apparently wind up costing consumers many thousands of dollars each year. The smallest cars on the market also have tiny price tags, making the price of repairs a much larger percentage of what the vehicle cost in the first place. The IIHS recently evaluated the bumpers of some of the tiniest vehicles on the market in low-speed incidents, and the results dovetail with the agency's equally low impressions of vehicle-to-vehicle impact performance of small-segment vehicles. A new damage assessment criteria was used to more closely mirror reality, and the cars underwent four tests: two corner impacts and two full width impacts on the bumpers.

Of the seven cars tested, only the Smart ForTwo earned an "acceptable" rating, with most of the pack scoring "poor." Worst was the Kia Rio's startling $9,380 total damage tally, by far the most expensive showing in the test. The Honda Fit and Mini Cooper may be more highly regarded in the small car segment, but both of those models also score poorly.

In diametric opposition to what anyone might actually enjoy driving, the Smart ForTwo and the Chevrolet Aveo came out best in terms of repair costs, bashing their way to $3,281 and $4,490 in total damage, respectively. It's clear from the IIHS' testing where bumpers often failed to engage or slid under the test barrier, that the way improve on the tests is to pay closer attention to bumper position in all circumstances when designing a car. If the bumper doesn't match up properly, bodywork ends up bearing the brunt of the impact, making even low-speed collisions expensive propositions. Hit the jump to see a video and a chart of the results along with the full release.

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ]

Continue reading IIHS: Small car bumpers cost big bucks to repair

IIHS: Small car bumpers cost big bucks to repair originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smart USA responds to IIHS crash test results

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Mercedes-Benz, Smart

IIHS crash tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

Needless to say, the folks over at Smart USA were not pleased to see the results of the latest batch of crash testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS did a series of frontal offset crash tests between small and mid-size cars, one of which included a smart ForTwo versus a Mercedes C300. While the results may have been what most people expected, they don't correlate with the ForTwo's results in standardized tests where the IIHS rates the smart as good in front and side impacts. The feds at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration give the smart 4 stars on frontal impact and 5 on side impact.

The problem, as Smart USA sees it, is that the IIHS devised a test that no automaker has designed to and that they claim only represents about one percent of real world accidents. Smart has even set up a site for customer testimonials about the crash safety performance of their ForTwo. Typically in the past, Smarts have actually done quite well in similar vehicle-on-vehicle tests, such as the ones conducted by Mercedes and Auto Motor und Sport after the jump.

The fundamental issue is that car structures are very complex and their response in a crash is highly dependent on the precise nature of the vehicle-to-vehicle interface. Because of standardized tests, cars are optimized to perform well in those, just as the powertrain is optimized to maximize results on the EPA mileage tests. It's not clear at this point how the IIHS methodology varies from what has been done in the past and why the results are so much worse. One thing that's clear: this story is far from over.

Gallery: IIHS mid-size vs sub-compact crash tests

[Source: SmartUSA]

Continue reading Smart USA responds to IIHS crash test results

Smart USA responds to IIHS crash test results originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS finds sub-compacts fare poorly against mid-size sedans

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:23:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

IIHS crash tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the biggest concerns people have with buying smal cars is crash safety. More specifically, there are concerns about what happens when a small car meets a larger one in an accident. Regardless of size, all cars are required to meet the same crash safety standards. The problem is that crash tests are done by slamming a car into a standardized barrier, while accidents in the real world don't generally involve impacts with standardized barriers.

When cars of different sizes collide there are a huge number of variables that impact the result. One of those is kinetic energy, which is a function of mass and velocity. A larger, heavier vehicle has more energy than a smaller, lighter one, and in combination with less crush space, the latter tends to come off worse in an accident. The Insurance institute for Highway Safety has run a series of crash tests between sub-compact and mid-sized cars and in all three cases the small cars did substantially worse than they did in the standard crash tests. All of the small cars earned good scores in regular testing but did poorly in the new tests. The IIHS press release explains the results after the jump.

Gallery: IIHS mid-size vs sub-compact crash tests

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS finds sub-compacts fare poorly against mid-size sedans

IIHS finds sub-compacts fare poorly against mid-size sedans originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS releases list of 2009 Top Safety Picks

John Neff — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Safety

Vehicles are getting safer according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which published its list of 2009 Top Safety Picks today. A total of 72 vehicles earned Top Safety Pick honors this year, which means each one earned the highest score of Good in front, side and rear crash tests performed by the IIHS, as well as offers electronic stability control. Ford and Volvo had the most cars on the list with 16 total, while Honda/Acura nabbed 13. The VW/Audi Group had nine models, and General Motors and Toyota each had eight.

Proper head restraints were apparently a major stumbling block that kept a total of 26 vehicles off the list. The Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Toyota Prius and Camry, smart fortwo, Infiniti G35 and M35 and many more would have made the list if they offered adequate head restraint designs. Chrysler LLC was the only automaker with no Top Safety Picks, and would have earned the honor for the Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country if they had offered better head restraint designs.

The IIHS says that this year's total of 72 picks is more than double last year's crop and triple the amount from 2007. That says new car safety is moving in the right direction and helped along the most by the widespread inclusion of ESC as standard equipment. Aside from Chrysler LLC, the good showing of both Ford and GM is also testament to the fact that U.S. automakers are not only keeping up with their competition when it comes to safety, but in many ways leading it.

Check out the complete list of all 72 Top Safety Picks after the jump.

UPDATE: Video added after the jump.

[Source: IIHS]

Continue reading IIHS releases list of 2009 Top Safety Picks

IIHS releases list of 2009 Top Safety Picks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS praises Ford Focus for cheap crash repairs

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Maintenance, Budget, Safety, Ford

click above image to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe

Reminding us once again that there's more than meets the eye when shopping for a vehicle are recent impact tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that measure how much it costs to fix a vehicle after after a low-speed accident. Sure, we're all interested in safety and styling, but we should also be concerned with how much these low-speed impacts will cost to repair. The winner of the testing was the Ford Focus, which scored light damage all the way around. The IIHS heaped praise on Ford for designing a bumper that can truly take a bump -- a novel idea.

Amazingly, some small cars like the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius and VW Rabbit cost up to a third of the car's worth to fix from damage resulting from a minor impact. That's a big problem for any car, but especially so for those sold on the merits of economy. To prove that it's not too difficult for auto manufacturers to design a better bumper, the IIHS made a few simple changes to a Prius that didn't affect the looks of the car. After retesting, it made it through the impact tests with a fraction of the damage. For the complete rundown on the testing procedures and results, click past the break.

Gallery: 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe

[Source: IIHS]

Continue reading IIHS praises Ford Focus for cheap crash repairs

IIHS praises Ford Focus for cheap crash repairs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS crashes eight SUVs, four earn Top Safety Picks

John Neff — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety

Click above for high-res gallery of each crash test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released complete crash test scores today for eight SUVs including the 2009 Ford Escape, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2008 Nissan Rogue, 2009 VW Tiguan, 2008 Chevy Equinox/Pontiac Torrent, 2008 Jeep Wrangler 2-door, the Jeep Patriot and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. When we say complete crash tests, we mean the IIHS performed front, side and rear crash tests on all eight SUVs.

Each vehicle was given an overall rating of good, acceptable, marginal or poor, and the Escape, Outlander, Rogue and Tiguan earned good ratings in all three tests and, since they each come with electronic stability control as standard equipment, were also named Top Safety Picks by the IIHS. The rest of the group received either acceptable or marginal ratings in some tests, though the worst performing was the Jeep Wrangler 2-door. While the Jeep did earn a good rating in the frontal crash test, its side crash test was rated as poor, the lowest rating possible.

Automakers with SUVs that earned Top Safety Pick awards will now be touting their achievements from the rooftops. Ford has already started, noting in a press release that the Escape tops Toyota and Honda in combined safety and fuel efficiency ratings. Other automakers, meanwhile, are trying to explain away why their vehicles didn't perform as well in the IIHS tests. General Motors issued a press release noting that the Equinox and Torrent earned 5-stars in the NHTSA tests and that the IIHS side crash test is a "single and very sever test."

Follow the jump for the press release from the IIHS that explains their testing procedures and goes further into why each vehicle earned the ratings it did.

Gallery: IIHS SUV Crash Tests

[Source: IIHS]

Continue reading IIHS crashes eight SUVs, four earn Top Safety Picks

IIHS crashes eight SUVs, four earn Top Safety Picks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS questions the effectiveness of five new safety features

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

The view above your left knee in the 2009 Infiniti FX.

In the last 24 hours, we've been accosted with more high-tech, in-car wizardry than we've ever asked for. And while you'll have to wait until next week to read our review of the new Infiniti FX, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has weighed in on the top five new safety technologies that may, or may not, have an effect on crash rates.

The IIHS studied how blind-spot detection systems, adaptive headlamps, lane-departure warning systems, forward-collision warning systems with automatic braking and emergency brake assist, work and how they may prevent collisions.

Of the 2.3 million frontal crashes that take place annually, 7,200 result in a fatality. The proliferation of systems that can detect an imminent frontal collision, sound a warning and if the drive doesn't react, preload all the safety systems and begin applying the brakes may prove useful. The same goes for lane departure warning systems, which notify the driver with a tone if they begin veering out of their lane. Others, like blind-spot detection systems won't have as much affect on road fatalities since they don't account for a substantial amount of fatal crashes, but they'll certainly make people more aware of their surroundings.

The IIHS also noted that adaptive headlamps, which turn in conjunction with the wheel to illuminate around a curve, might cause drivers to increase their speed, making a crash more probable. While we don't buy that last one, it highlights the point that's often left out of these studies: driver error is the number one cause of collisions. Fix that and all this added technology is superfluous.

[Source: IIHS via Detroit News]

IIHS questions the effectiveness of five new safety features originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just wrapped up its latest battery of batterings and most of the tested contenders in the mid-size segment faired well. The Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, along with the Infiniti G35, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, Mitsubishi Galant and Kia Optima all received a grade of "Good" for front and side impacts, with the exception of the Optima, which ranked "Acceptable" during the side impact evaluation. However, problems arose in the rear crash test, where the G35, Altima, Malibu, and Aura were all rated as "Marginal," while the Avenger/Sebring received an "Average" score and the Optima walked away with a gold star and a "Good" rating. The only vehicle that received a "Poor" rating on any of the tests was the Mitsubishi Galant, which didn't hold up as well during the rear-impact test.

All the details from the IIHS are available in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much

IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS studies effectiveness of roof strength: Surprise! It matters

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover

There's been considerable debate between automakers, legislators and safety advocates over how roof strength correlates to deaths in rollover crashes. The majority of the focus has appropriately been heaped on SUVs, whose high center of gravity makes them more prone to rollovers, particularly when they leave the road.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released a study that proves that more roof strength can reduce injuries by some 39 to 57 percent when compared to the weaker models it tested. The IIHS used the same roof strength test as the feds on a group of SUVs that currently meet the government's roof requirements. At the top of the heap was the 2000-2004 Nissan Xterra that was able to withstand almost 12,000 pounds of force, while the lowest ranked vehicle, the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, lost its head(room) after 6,500 pounds of force was applied to the roof.

[Source: IIHS]

IIHS studies effectiveness of roof strength: Surprise! It matters originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac CTS earns IIHS' Top Safety Pick

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Cadillac

The new Cadillac CTS has been snatching up awards and garnering praise since its launch last year, and now its got another trophy to place on its shelf. After the IIHS wrapped up its battery of batterings, the CTS joined the Institute's list of Top Safety Picks for 2008. Cadillac's entry-level sports sedan is sitting at the table with the Volvo S80, Saab 9-3, Audi A4 and A6 as another vehicle to receive the highest rating issued by the Institute after enduring front, side and rear crash tests, along with being equipped with electronic stability control.

The IIHS' full press release is posted after the jump.

Continue reading Cadillac CTS earns IIHS' Top Safety Pick

Cadillac CTS earns IIHS' Top Safety Pick originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS posts results on crashed Cooper, front rating 'good'

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:35:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Hatchback, Mini

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ~~wrapped up yet another round of merciless destruction~~ analyzed crash test data provided by BMW and came away with an overall 'Good' rating for the 2007 MINI Cooper.

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]

IIHS posts results on crashed Cooper, front rating 'good' originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS reports luxury cars have expensive fender benders

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Saab, Volvo

This is kind of a long-known fact, but there's some new data to back it up. Just because you pony up those extra tens of thousands of dollars for a luxury car doesn't mean you will get bumpers that protect you from damage any better. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just released a new report on the amount of monetary damages suffered by some luxury and near-luxury vehicles in low-speed impacts - parking lot mishaps and fender benders at 3 to 6 miles per hour. They found that in this group of cars, repair bills could be as high as $14,000! While that doesn't mean the passengers are inherently unsafe in these vehicles, the high repair costs can get people, well, a little upset.

While we don't necessarily agree with IIHS VP Joe Nolan when he says "There shouldn't be much or any damage in collisions at these speeds," we were a little shocked by the numbers. While testing 11 different 2007 luxury vehicles, for instance, the IIHS found the Infiniti G35 had the highest repair bill. It totaled a whopping $14,000, which is quite a bit when the whole car retails for just $31,450. But in all fairness, this is a series of four different tests and labor and paint work often add a lot to repairs. Working down the list, the Acura TL and Mercedes C Class required more than $11,000 in repairs, the Lexus ES was just under $11,000, and the Lexus IS was about $9,500. Repair totals for some others were $8,224 for the Volvo S60, $7,554 for the Acura TSX and $6,681 for the BMW 3 Series. The best three vehicles in the tests were the Saab 9-3, Audi A4 and Lincoln MKZ, all with less than $6,000 in damages.

We join the automakers in noting that these tests are strictly about repair costs and have nothing to do with vehicle safety, but maybe it's time to get back to the rubber stripped, chrome bumpers of yore to keep those parking lot mishaps more manageable. Or, you know, not.

Thanks, FRM!

[Source: MSNBC]

IIHS reports luxury cars have expensive fender benders originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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