Gas mizers flunk crash tests
Subcompact cars that offer great fuel economy and low price points didn't fare well in IIHS crash tests. The Nissan Versa did receive the institute's top rating but officials say none of the cars tested provided stellar protection. The Toyota Yaris not equipped with side air bags and the Scion xB received the lowest scores. A Yaris with side airbags fared better. One analyst said it was "foolish" for Toyota to bring over cars designed for Japanese driving.
The Versa, on the other hand, was designed for Europe and North America with larger dimensions. The Honda Fit was rated "good" in front and side crashes but "poor" in rear-end collision. Both the Fit and Versa have standard side-impact air bags. Toyota says all its vehicles will have standard side air bags by 2009 model year. Other cars receiving a "poor" rating in at least one of the tests include Hyundai Accent and Chevy Aveo. The Mini coupe received "good" for the front, "acceptable" in side impact and "marginal" in rear impact. Full results of the test will be released Tuesday.
[Source: John O'Dell / Los Angeles Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 12:40PM (12/19/2006)
I wonder how NEVs would fare? This is why they cause more harm than good to the BEV/PHEV car movement.
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1985 Gripen 2:37PM (12/19/2006)
This is one of the major points proponents of SUVs point-out: that they are safer than tiny little cars. Unfortunately these tiny car manufacturers try to increase sales by lowering the price and trading-off safety. If these small cars had all the airbags standard they would have fared much better. Why don't they have airbags as standard? Because they can sell the car for less that way, sell more, and make more money. Skimping on safety give small gas-miser cars a bad name.
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Owen 11:59AM (12/20/2006)
They irony is that they are less safe than the SUV's because of the SUV's. If a yaris were to impact another yaris, both drivers would fair equally. Now a yaris vs. an expedition; the Yaris would take the brunt of the blow and the explorer would see less, plain ol conservation of energy. That being said, a civic gets the same mileage as a yaris, has better crash test scores and costs roughly 1K more when similarly equipped. Could that be the only difference between them, safety equipment? Personally I would take the Civic.
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JP 10:45PM (12/20/2006)
#3 by your logic semi trucks, work trucks, delivery trucks, et al should all be banned too just so some moron can drive around in a roller skate and be safe.
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Chris 12:40AM (1/31/2007)
You're conservation of energy argument is flawed, if only in wording. The force imparted on both the Yaris and the SUV is the same. The Yaris undergoes more acceleration because it is less massive, but the SUV recieves the same amount of force from the accident. Depending on the equipment and crumple zones that the SUV has, you could be worse off. I'd rather be in a small car anyway so I can avoid the accident all together.
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LaughingTooHard 8:10AM (2/08/2007)
I'd like to see a Yaris versus Yaris crash. If the car has inadequate crumple zones being hit a car that weighs less will not help it too much. Seeing as the Yaris can get up to 60mph no problem two meeting each other head on at anything over 25mph would a life threatening crash.
The Smart for all its' safety features will kill the occupant if it hits a barrier or guardrail at highway speeds. Watch and cringe:
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/the-5th-gear-smart-crash-video/
Without any data to back it up, I would say hitting a tree or other stationary object is more common that hitting or being hit by a larger car. In that case a small, poorly designed car, is a death sentence. The biggest problem with small cars is the speed they can get up to. Honestly a subcompact car that can easily get up to 100+mph is not a good thing for the occupants. Add that skinny tires, and undersized brakes and even the Honda Fit for all its' agility would be a losing proposition compared to a mid or full sized car, forget about an SUV.
Most parents would buy their new driver an older mid-sized car before buying a new Yaris anyway. For all their bashing ask a parent where they would think their child would be safest in a crash with stationary object and I am sure full-sized american or SUVs would at the top of the list.
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