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Auto news; IIHS Criticizes Small Cars’ Side And Rear Crashworthiness The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was impressed with the significantly improved side crashworthiness offered by many new small cars, but it still feels that the segment should perform better overall. Eleven of the 21 current model small cars the agency has tested earn the agency’s top “good” rating for side ..Auto news; Enlarge Photo

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was impressed with the significantly improved side crashworthiness offered by many new small cars, but it still feels that the segment should perform better overall. Eleven of the 21 current model small cars the agency has tested earn the agency’s top “good” rating for side impact crash resistance, compared with only three of 19 in 2006. Still, the IIHS believes more small cars should ring in with better side impact protection.

Side crashworthiness is tough for small cars, as the institute uses impacts that strike at bumper height of a tall truck or SUV, right in the side window area of a small car like the MINI Cooper. As such, small cars hoping to score a “good” from the IIHS in side crash protection simply must come equipped with side-impact airbags.

The story isn’t as good when it comes to rear crash protection. Only the Ford Focus and MINI Cooper earned “good” ratings for this measure. IIHS senior vice president Joe Nolan claims that “many automakers haven’t paid as much attention to protection in rear crashes, compared with front and side.” Rear protection hinges on good seat/head restraints, and can be done without undue expense even on economy models. The best models feature active head restraints that provide extra neck support in the event of a rear collision. If the neck is allowed to lag behind the torso in a rear collision, stretching and whiplash can occur.

The worst performer of the small cars the agency tested was Chrysler’s PT Cruiser, which earned the worst rating of “poor” for both side and rear crash protection. IIHS recommended against buying this vehicle due to its poor occupant protection.

Front crash protection was the area where new small cars offered the most comprehensive improvements in safety, enabling most of them to make the top “good” rating in frontal crash testing.–Colin Mathews
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