Large cars
Audi A6
Ford Taurus with optional electronic stability control
Mercury Sable with optional electronic stability control
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A3, A4
Honda Accord
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy with optional electronic stability control
Midsize convertibles
Saab 9-3
Volvo C70
Small car
Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control
Minivans
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona
Midsize SUVs
Acura MDX, RDX
BMW X3, X5
Ford Edge, Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Saturn VUE built after December 2007
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V, Element
Subaru Forester with optional electronic stability control
Large pickup
Toyota Tundra
ALSO RANS
Twenty-three vehicles earn good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have ESC, standard or optional. They would be 2008 Top Safety Pick winners if their seat/head restraints also earned good ratings:
* Acura RL, TL
* BMW 3 series
* Chrysler Sebring convertible
* Infiniti M35/M45
* Kia Amanti
* Lexus IS 250/350, ES 350, GS 350/460
* Nissan Pathfinder, Xterra both with optional side airbags
* Nissan Quest
* Toyota Avalon, Camry, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Prius, RAV4, and Sienna
* Volkswagen Eos, Jetta, Passat, Rabbit
Looking at the IIHS site, it seems like they only tested the C, E, and M-class. The C and E failed to get top side-impact ratings. So much for Mercedes being #1 for safety.
Note btw that every Subaru model line is on the list (the only car company that managed that) and that the Impreza is the only small car on the list.
Last edited by Mike Wevrick : 11-18-2007 at 07:35 AM.
Thanks for the post. This specific test indicates that Volvo & Audi are tied for 1st place, MB E Class is alone in 2nd place. I'm ok with the E Class results.
However, if you notice. They don't test things like double impact crumple zones (able to hand more that one inpact - a.k.a. pileup), pre-safe systems (BAS, ADS, SBC/ABR ect.), ETR (seat belt retractors), high impact offset crash, ability to exit vehicle quickly and safely, roll overs, ability to not also anielate the opposing vehicle, and many many others. They look at two main things - frontal (off-set) and side impacts at 40MPH. There is a company in Britain that does REALISTIC testing. They took a 2007 Subaru Forester and did a typical 55MPH rear end collision and then another vehicle rear ended it at the same speed. Bad things happened. And that is a very realistic accident. Crash test ratings are not all they are cracked up to be!
Thanks for the post. This specific test indicates that Volvo & Audi are tied for 1st place, MB E Class is alone in 2nd place. I'm ok with the E Class results.
Why would one spend extra money to buy an inferior product. Mercedes quality and reliability has gone down the tube. Now safety is sliding. Because of this report, we are buying a Volvo. We will pick it up on 11/30.
Why would one spend extra money to buy an inferior product. Mercedes quality and reliability has gone down the tube. Now safety is sliding. Because of this report, we are buying a Volvo. We will pick it up on 11/30.
I owned 3 Volvos over 21 years (the latest being a V70 wagon). Truth be told & speaking from experience, Volvo quality has slipped over that timeframe. But hey,you'll enjoy your Volvo I'm sure. (Just as I'm enjoying my MB....
Why would one spend extra money to buy an inferior product. Mercedes quality and reliability has gone down the tube. Now safety is sliding. Because of this report, we are buying a Volvo. We will pick it up on 11/30.
I wonder where Volvo and the rest of them cars are getting their ideas from.
Have fun in the Volvo.
__________________
1961 Chevy Impala Bubbletop (restored) - SOLD
1981 Nissan 280ZX
1987 Mercedes 300TD
2000 Mercedes E320 The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but the wise so full of doubts.
I owned 3 Volvos over 21 years (the latest being a V70 wagon). Truth be told & speaking from experience, Volvo quality has slipped over that timeframe. But hey,you'll enjoy your Volvo I'm sure. (Just as I'm enjoying my MB....
We too had a brand new 01, V70 T6 wagon. Had it for about 8 months and then traded it in for an brand new 01 E320 station wagon. Nothing wrong with the Volvo except my wife wanted something larger. Had such a negative experience with the Mercedes wagon, that she refuses to purchase another Mercedes. Prior to that we had a Mercedes lemon. Also had a 99, ML 430, it was a piece of trash, only kept it for a year.
Truth be told, Mercedes quality has also gone down the tube. I've purchased 10 new Mercedes since 1988. Last three are the 06 R350, 06 S500, 07 GL450. We had a 05 Volvo XC 90, car saved my wife life. She now drives an 06 BMW 750LI. That car also saved my wife and son life. Neither crash were her fault. Regardless, it not so much the reliability, but the safety aspect that we are looking for. We are just looking for the safest car. If the car does not perform well in the crash test, then what faith could I have in a real life accident.
However, if you notice. They don't test things like double impact crumple zones (able to hand more that one inpact - a.k.a. pileup), pre-safe systems (BAS, ADS, SBC/ABR ect.), ETR (seat belt retractors), high impact offset crash, ability to exit vehicle quickly and safely, roll overs, ability to not also anielate the opposing vehicle, and many many others. They look at two main things - frontal (off-set) and side impacts at 40MPH. There is a company in Britain that does REALISTIC testing. They took a 2007 Subaru Forester and did a typical 55MPH rear end collision and then another vehicle rear ended it at the same speed. Bad things happened. And that is a very realistic accident. Crash test ratings are not all they are cracked up to be!
Good points. IIHS tests are certainly not the be-all and end-all of safety. It would be interesting to see a lot of different safety tests compiled together, plus analysis of actual on-road crash results.
On the "ability to not also anielate [you mean "annihilate" I assume?] the opposing vehicle," a friend of mine with the same car as me was in a head-on with an Accord (Accord driver's fault). The Accord was totalled; my friend's son in the back seat barely noticed they had been in a crash.
a friend of mine with the same car as me was in a head-on with an Accord (Accord driver's fault). The Accord was totalled; my friend's son in the back seat barely noticed they had been in a crash.
That crash is like comparing a 180lb running back getting hit by a 290lb line backer. I think overall weight and mass play a major role in any crash.
, Garret T3 Turbocharger (12psi), Shimmed ALDA, Uncorked exhaust at downpipe
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I think overall weight and mass play a major role in any crash.
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