Safety: Why No IIHS Side Impact Rating?

[talkitron]

I'm considering buying a G sedan. Normally I look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-test ratings for data on safety. The EX35 just won an IIHS award for being safe. Meanwhile, the G has been out for longer and there still is no side-crash rating (look at the bottom):

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=15

I worry that this is intentional: Nissan knows that car won't get a safety award, and is preventing the IIHS from running the test. I don't want to buy a car that isn't near the top in safety. Does anyone have more info about why Nissan is not allowing this test?

[gwoods]

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ra...d=335

Hard to say why that test was not done? The 2006 received a Acceptable side impact rating. I doubt that the 2007 + model would have dropped?

What makes you think Nissan will not let IIHS do the test? Maybe they are on the waiting list?

[gwoods]

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/res...&mode=

Cars.com says the test is pending.

They also said Infiniti attempted to improve the whiplash score in the 2007+ model so I'd imagine they also attempted to improve the side impact score?

[rn79870]

Welcome to the Forum talkitron

I see that the safety results you are seeking are not available yet.I checked Consumer Reports for the G and they rated it with the highest rating for: Gov't front-crash test, driver Gov't side-crash test, driver Gov't side-crash test, rear pass. Gov't rollover test, 2WD Gov't rollover test, 4WD and the second highest rating for Gov't front-crash test, front pass. For more info see...(you may only see parts unless you are a member)http://www.consumerreports.org...s.htm

You'll also see that the G is their highest rated upscale sedan for 2008.

I'm a member of CR and use it all the time. If you aren't a member, I suggest you look into joining. It is well worth the money. ::end plug for CR::

I just checked. You'll not see much without being a member, but I've accurately represented a small portion of the results above.

[talkitron]

Hard to say why that test was not done? The 2006 received a Acceptable side impact rating.

I checked the site and the 2006 model was great except for your pelvis, which seems screwed with a "poor" (red color, must be bad) rating. I don't know you about you, but I like my pelvis!

What makes you think Nissan will not let IIHS do the test? Maybe they are on the waiting list?

But the EX35 already had its test. How long could the waiting list be? In March 2007, the test was "pending" according to the Cars 101 article. Maybe Nissan did its own tests and found the results were poor, and decided to cover it up by not letting the IIHS do its test.

[talkitron]

They also said Infiniti attempted to improve the whiplash score in the 2007+ model so I'd imagine they also attempted to improve the side impact score?

I checked the IIHS site and the whiplash things makes me suspect the car's safety. As the article says, they tried to improve the rear-impact score, but the 07-08 model still gets a "marginal" rating. So their improvement plan clearly wasn't very well thought out from an engineering perspective. Check the marginal rating at:

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/he...initi

[talkitron]

Thanks. I will check out Consumer Reports. I know little from a technical perspective about crash testing, but I'm worried these government tests are pretty easy to pass and the IIHS tests are the real deal because insurance companies have to pay your medical bills if you get in an accident. Insurance companies have money on the line while the government does not. And if the IIHS tests are not more rigorous, why even have them in the first place if the government is already testing?

[rn79870]

One thing you might want to consider is that with a G you have a better chance to avoid the accident than with many cars. It is stable on its feet and quick to respond. It stops well and has enough power to move you out of danger too.