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Small cars do poorly in side-impact crash tests

CTV.ca News Staff

The majority of small cars that underwent a side-impact crash safety test were rated "poor", according to the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Of the 14 cars tested, only the Chevrolet Cobalt and Toyota Corolla, when equipped with optional side-airbags, earned the Institute's second-highest rating of "acceptable."

However, when the optional side airbags were taken away, the Corolla and Cobalt were also rated "poor" for side-impact protection.

The crash tests were to mimic an SUV or pick-up truck hitting the cars head-on at 50 km/h (31 mph) with a relatively small woman sitting inside.

The Institute singled out the Dodge Neon as the worst performer. It was tested without side airbags.

"This car is a disaster," said Institute chief operating officer Adrian Lund.

"High forces were recorded on the head, torso, and pelvis of the dummy driver. If this had been a real driver in a real crash, it's likely it wouldn't have been survivable."

The other cars singled out for "poor" ratings include:

* Ford Focus (without optional airbags)
* Mazda 3 (without optional airbags)
* Mitsubishi Lancer (without optional airbags)
* Saturn ION (with optional airbags)
* Volkswagen New Beetle (with standard airbags)
* Suzuki Forenzo (with standard airbags)
* Suzuki Aerio (with standard airbags)
* Nissan Sentra (without optional airbags)
* Kia Spectra (with standard airbags)
* Hyundai Elantra (with standard airbags)

When the vehicle came with side airbags as an option, it was tested without them. If the manufacturer wanted them tested with the airbags, the Institute did so, referring the cost to the car maker.

The side airbags clearly made a difference for the ratings given to the Chevrolet Cobalt and Toyota Corolla, but the airbags aren't always enough.

Four of the cars, the New Beetle, Elantra, Forenza and Spectra, were all equipped with standard side airbags with head protection.

They rated good or acceptable for head injury, as did the Saturn ION with the optional side airbags. But the Institute said the structural integrity of the cars must be improved.

"Side airbags can protect the head, but if the vehicle structure doesn't hold up well then serious injuries to other body regions still can occur," says Lund.

"With better structures along with the side airbags, the performances of these vehicles would improve."

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