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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has refined its crash tests, and it’s no secret that the new-for-2011 ratings are tougher than before. The 2011 Honda Civic, one of the first lambs to the slaughter, didn’t fare well in government tests.

The variance in scores is due to new testing methods rather than reduced vehicle quality. “Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about vehicle safety and crash avoidance technologies,” according to the NHTSA website. “Because of the more stringent tests, ratings for 2011 and newer vehicles should not be compared to ratings for 1990-2010 models.”

The Civic scored an overall rating of three out of five stars and a side-impact rating of two out of five stars – a significant dip from the very similar 2010 Honda Civic’s scores using the previous rating system for government crash tests. “Although the Civic hasn’t been significantly updated since the 2006 model year, the new NHTSA methods, which include a ‘pole’ test, whereby the car is simulated in a 20 mph impact with a 10 foot pole or tree behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side, have resulted in some surprising changes to the car’s overall safety rating,” says Autoguide.

The Civic wasn’t alone, “the Nissan Versa also only managed a two star rating in the side impact test,” says Left Lane News. “The Civic’s bigger brother – the Accord – did manage to pass with a five star rating.” But the lower scores aren’t just limited to affordable small cars. Autoguide reports, “Even some larger cars didn’t do well, the best-selling Toyota Camry only garnering three stars overall.”

Still, the more stringent testing process may ultimately put new car shoppers in safer cars. “Honda pointed out that a redesigned 2012 Civic goes on sale in the spring,” says Edmunds. “It will be equipped with standard stability control.”

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