The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Arlington, Va., recently released its 2007 study of side impact crash testing — with some surprising results.
Three of six large car models — Acura RL, Kia Amanti and Volvo S80 — earned the top rating of good, with the Volvo S80 also earning the IIHS top safety pick award for overall crash protection.
The Volvo S80 earned the award because it also received the institute's good rating in front and rear crash tests and has electronic stability control as standard equipment.
The 2007 Cadillac STS and Mercedes E class earned acceptable ratings in the latest round of side impact tests.
The worst performer was the 2008 BMW 5 series, which earns the second lowest rating of marginal for side impact protection.
Ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are based on a crash test in which a barrier designed to replicate the front end of a typical SUV or pickup truck strikes the tested vehicle in the side at 31 mph.
About 9,200 people in passenger vehicles were killed in side impacts in 2005, the second most common fatal crash type after frontal crashed.
High price doesn't always predict safety performance: The lowest priced vehicle in the group the tested by IIHS, the Amanti, was one of the best performers. One of the most expensive models, the BMW 5 series, was the worst.
The IIHS also conducts 40 mph frontal offset crash tests and evaluates vehicles' seat/head restraint designs for protection in rear crashes.
For comparative evaluations of hundreds of passenger vehicles, visit: www.iihs.org/ratings.
Here are the IIHS's new top overall safety picks. (In some instances, 2008 models were available for earlier 2007 year testing.)
Large cars
2007 Audi A6
2008 Ford Taurus (With optional electronic stability control.)
2008 Mercury Sable (With optional electronic stability control.)
Volvo S80
Midsize cars
Audi A4
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy (With optional electronic stability control.)
Midsize Convertibles
Saab 9-3
Volvo C70
Minivans
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester (With optional electronic stability control.)
Midsize SUVs
Acura MDX
Acura RDX
Ford Edge
Ford Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Subaru B9 Tribeca
Volvo XC90
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