(AP) VERSA "safest" small car on the road

[indus49]

WASHINGTON (AP) - New crash test results released by theinsurance industry on Tuesday show the downside to fuel-savingeconomy cars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave its lowestrating of poor in side-impact protection to four vehicles: aversion of the 2007 Toyota Yaris without side air bags, the 2006Scion xB, and 2007 models of the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio,which share similar underpinnings. The institute evaluated several minicars for their ability toprotect people in a severe crash. The 2007 Nissan Versa, whichoffers standard side air bags, received top scores in frontal, sideand rear crash protection. The 2007 Toyota Yaris with optional side air bags and the 2007Honda Fit - which has standard side air bags - also got top marksin frontal and side-impact tests. The economy vehicles were tested by the institute for the firsttime because high gasoline prices have made the small cars morepopular. The vehicles, which typically weigh about 2,500 pounds orless, raise some safety concerns because of how they would interactwith larger vehicles in a crash. "People traveling in small, light cars are at a disadvantage,especially when they collide with bigger, heavier vehicles. Thelaws of physics dictate this," said institute president AdrianLund. During testing of the Scion xB, part of Toyota's youth-orientedbrand, the institute said the test barrier struck the driverdummy's head, which would have likely caused brain and neckinjuries. Side air bags are unavailable on the xB and are a $650option on the Yaris. Bill Kwong, a Toyota spokesman, said, "We feel our vehiclesperform really well in the real-world situation." The institute also cited the Accent, which has standardcurtain-style air bags in the front and rear seats. While the airbags "provided good head protection," they said the driver dummywithstood impacts that would have led to internal organ injuries,broken ribs and a fractured pelvis. Miles Johnson, a Hyundai spokesman, noted that the vehicle hasperformed well in the government's tests. The institute said it conducted two frontal tests for the Fit.The air bag deployed too early in the first test, allowing highforces on the dummy's head. Honda spokesman Sage Marie said theywould contact customers about a voluntary safety campaign in early2007 to modify the air bag's software. In a second test, the Fit'sair bag deployed properly after Honda made the changes. Among other vehicles, the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo with standard sideair bags received the second-highest score of acceptable forfrontal crash protection and the second-lowest mark of marginal forside-impact evaluation. GM spokesman Alan Adler said the Aveo "meets or exceeds safetystandards in more than 120 countries in which it is sold." The 2006 Mini Cooper was rated good on frontal evaluation andacceptable on the side. The newly redesigned 2007 version isexpected in showrooms in the end of February, BMW of North Americaspokesman Thomas Plucinsky said. --- On the Net: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/

[BenDupre]

Wow, hate to be driving a fit right now... With premature air-bagulation. Shouldn't joke about safety, but I am really glad I choose the Versa now. I can finally stop sweeating the couple MPG knowing I got better comfort AND the safest small car on the road!!!

Ben

[JPack]

Here's another interesting tidbit:

Quote »In the side test, the standard curtain-style airbags prevented contact between the striking barrier and the heads of the crash test dummies (Nissan is modifying the side airbags in cars built after November 2006 to improve protection in side impacts).[/quote]Keep in mind the IIHS tested a Versa with this modification. I wish they would indicate the results of the pre-Nov 2006 vehicles. Might want to hold off your purchases....

[BenDupre]

I don't think they can make safety changes non-retroactive, can they?

Ben

[sixdgrees]

CNN reported on this too. Showed the standard crash tests with the Versa. Nice to now it's safe and all but hard to watch the crumpling Vs!

Here's a link to the cnn.com article:http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/....html
Modified by sixdgrees at 11:29 AM 12/19/2006

[getfdaz1]

I was just about to post this, Thought I'd be the first OH well

[Ever Victorious]

I was just about to post this, Thought I'd be the first OH well

Almost 12 hours too late, grasshopper.

I just got done watching the tivoed copy of the news. Hi Ben! :P

[getfdaz1]

Yeah tell me about it !!I had to comment on one since its been more than 4 with the same topic...

[indus49]

Sorry guys... I work for the news so I usually get the AP stuff quicker than you do.

[Jemdawg]

CNN reported on this too. Showed the standard crash tests with the Versa. Nice to now it's safe and all but hard to watch the crumpling Vs!

Here's a link to the cnn.com article:http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/....html

Modified by sixdgrees at 11:29 AM 12/19/2006

Yeah, it's also hard to imagine that there are consumers waiting for their cars when they're out destroying them.