New Safety Crash Ratings
#1
New Safety Crash Ratings
Washington Post Article-Safer cars but fewer stars in government crash tests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...prss=rss_metro
They don't have the new rating for the Fit yet, but the Versa went from 4 stars in 2010 to 2 Stars in 2011...
The 2010 Fit-(2) 5 Star, (2) 4 Star
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle%20Sh...Detail?ID=8442
The 2010 Versa Hatch-All 4 Star...
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle%20Sh...Detail?ID=8416
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...prss=rss_metro
They don't have the new rating for the Fit yet, but the Versa went from 4 stars in 2010 to 2 Stars in 2011...
The 2010 Fit-(2) 5 Star, (2) 4 Star
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle%20Sh...Detail?ID=8442
The 2010 Versa Hatch-All 4 Star...
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle%20Sh...Detail?ID=8416
Last edited by Blackbeard; 10-06-2010 at 03:31 PM.
#3
Yes...
From the Washington Post Article...
"We are raising the bar on safety because we are subjecting automobiles to more rigorous tests," he said Tuesday, before a backdrop of mangled vehicles and flanked by a row of crash-test dummies outside his agency's headquarters in Southeast Washington. "We know that people wait to get these ratings . . . as they go to showrooms to buy automobiles."
#7
All cars have gotten safer - the old standard was a bit of a joke after 2000 or so.
The IIHS, in particular, has done a great job lighting a fire under the NHTSA's ass. Remember when they tested the 2003 F150?
![](http://www.iihs.org/ratings/controls/image.ashx?rh=7&id=1)
Here's a Civic 10 years ago:
![](http://www.iihs.org/ratings/controls/image.ashx?rh=77&id=1)
and just for kicks, a Neon from 10 years ago:
![](http://www.iihs.org/ratings/controls/image.ashx?rh=119&id=1)
vs today's Civic:
![](http://www.iihs.org/ratings/controls/image.ashx?rh=603&id=1)
and Fit:
![](http://www.iihs.org/ratings/controls/image.ashx?rh=1046&id=1)
I do find it annoying that the new standards are so ambiguous. The old standard was less than useful due to the overall increased safety levels, but was still concrete:
Chance of serious injury in frontal crash:
Less than 10% chance (5 stars)
10-19% chance (4 stars)
20-34% chance (3 stars)
35-45% chance (2 stars)
More than 45% chance (1 star)
Side impact:
Less than 6% chance (5 stars)
6-10% chance (4 stars)
11-20% chance (3 stars)
21-25% chance (2 stars)
More than 25% chance (1 star)
The new standard defines 3 stars as average, and 4 as below average, 5 far below average (chance of serious injury... low is good ;-) )
My other problem with both NHTSA and IIHS testing is that the frontal crash tests are not comparable between size class. For the side test, they always use a 3000 lbs simulated light-truck front, at 38 mph. Basically, a Ford Ranger. Because all vehicles are hit by the same weighted object, you can compare a Smart For2 to a Hummer and the test is valid.
The front test compares two vehicles of equal weight. I'd like it if, rather than a wall at 35 mph, they had a 3500* lbs barrier coming at 35 mph. Let us see crash tests comparable across the board. Still, head-on collisions are rather rare, accounting for only about 1 in 50 crashes.
* lighter than a minivan or SUV, heavier than a compact, about average for a midsize sedan
Besides, it's still possible for a well engineered car to get a good rating:
2011 Ford Fiesta | 2011 5-Star Safety Ratings | Safercar.gov | NHTSA
Maybe Nissan shouldn't have let the French design their Versa. I wonder what this will mean for the Juke...
Meanwhile, poor Toyota can't catch a break... the Camry dropped to a 3 star overall:
2011 Toyota Camry | 2011 5-Star Safety Ratings | Safercar.gov | NHTSA
EDIT:
EuroNCAP is a good place to see more comprehensive tests - a bit more like IIHS than NHTSA-NCAP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz1mB3c4ZU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7c31yzRktA
I'm surprised that the Versa did poorly. The closest Euro analogue is the Renault Modus, and 5th Gear had a great time running one into a Volvo tank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emtLLvXrrFs
The IIHS, in particular, has done a great job lighting a fire under the NHTSA's ass. Remember when they tested the 2003 F150?
Here's a Civic 10 years ago:
and just for kicks, a Neon from 10 years ago:
vs today's Civic:
and Fit:
I do find it annoying that the new standards are so ambiguous. The old standard was less than useful due to the overall increased safety levels, but was still concrete:
Chance of serious injury in frontal crash:
Less than 10% chance (5 stars)
10-19% chance (4 stars)
20-34% chance (3 stars)
35-45% chance (2 stars)
More than 45% chance (1 star)
Side impact:
Less than 6% chance (5 stars)
6-10% chance (4 stars)
11-20% chance (3 stars)
21-25% chance (2 stars)
More than 25% chance (1 star)
The new standard defines 3 stars as average, and 4 as below average, 5 far below average (chance of serious injury... low is good ;-) )
My other problem with both NHTSA and IIHS testing is that the frontal crash tests are not comparable between size class. For the side test, they always use a 3000 lbs simulated light-truck front, at 38 mph. Basically, a Ford Ranger. Because all vehicles are hit by the same weighted object, you can compare a Smart For2 to a Hummer and the test is valid.
The front test compares two vehicles of equal weight. I'd like it if, rather than a wall at 35 mph, they had a 3500* lbs barrier coming at 35 mph. Let us see crash tests comparable across the board. Still, head-on collisions are rather rare, accounting for only about 1 in 50 crashes.
* lighter than a minivan or SUV, heavier than a compact, about average for a midsize sedan
Besides, it's still possible for a well engineered car to get a good rating:
2011 Ford Fiesta | 2011 5-Star Safety Ratings | Safercar.gov | NHTSA
Maybe Nissan shouldn't have let the French design their Versa. I wonder what this will mean for the Juke...
Meanwhile, poor Toyota can't catch a break... the Camry dropped to a 3 star overall:
2011 Toyota Camry | 2011 5-Star Safety Ratings | Safercar.gov | NHTSA
EDIT:
EuroNCAP is a good place to see more comprehensive tests - a bit more like IIHS than NHTSA-NCAP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz1mB3c4ZU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7c31yzRktA
I'm surprised that the Versa did poorly. The closest Euro analogue is the Renault Modus, and 5th Gear had a great time running one into a Volvo tank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emtLLvXrrFs
Last edited by Occam; 10-17-2010 at 03:27 PM.
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