Rappaport, Glass, Greene, & Levine Blog

The Safest Small Cars According to the IIHS

The results are in and only two 2009 model small cars earned good ratings in side crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Have you wondered how your small car would hold up in a serious side impact crash or other type of auto accident in New York?

Seven small cars, all 2009 models, were included in the Institute’s front, side and rear crash tests.  All of the seven vehicles, The Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Saturn Astra, Suzuki SX4 and Toyota Matrix, earned the highest rating in the category of “good for occupant protection in frontal crashes.”  However, only the SX4 and its twin Pontiac Vibe earned good ratings for protection in side crashes.  The Institute issued a statement in its press release that the majority of new small cars earn good ratings in frontal crash tests, but do not perform well in side and rear crashes.

The side crash tests used to measure the protection is small cars incorporates a barrier designed to represent the front end of a pickup truck or SUV.  The barrier is at head level, which makes side airbags an important component in protection.  Joe Nolan, the Institute’s senior vice president, said that side airbags are standard in all of the small vehicles that were tested this time, which is a major change from 2006 when side airbags were mostly optional.

If you have been injured in a New York car accident, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact an experienced car accident attorney at Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine at (800) 734-9445.

Labels: car accident crash tests New York car accident attorney side impact crash