IIHS 2009 Roof Crush Test: Micro and Minicars
Not content to wait for the Federal government to begin phasing in stricter roof-crush requirements in 2012, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) already conducted its version of the test for micro and minicars.
The results? The tiny Smart ForTwo has the strongest roof, the Chevy Aveo, the weakest. Full results are at right. (G = Good, A = Acceptable, M = Marginal.) None of the cars tested ranked "Poor."
Stronger roofs are expected to cut down on the deaths and injuries suffered in vehicle rollovers. Although rollovers aren't the most common form of crash, they are the most lethal, killing some 10,000 people each year.
So the IIHS is getting tough. Starting with the 2010 model year, a vehicle must earn a "Good" rating in the roof crush test in order to qualify to be an IIHS Top Safety Pick -- an important award that automakers use to tout their safety chops. The new requirement will drive some automakers to improve their roof strength ahead of the federal requirement, which won't be fully phased in until 2016.
For details on the minicars test results, click here. To learn how roof crush tests are conducted, click here.
- Posted by
- Joanne Helperin August 26, 2009, 9:00 AM
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- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Safety, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, MINI, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- Chevy Aveo, IIHS Roof Crush Test, IIHS Top Safety Pick, Minicars, Smart ForTwo
Smaller frames a going to be structurally strong. I also believe the test applies a pressure that is a percentage of the weight. Combine all that with the Smart having a relatively strong passenger compartment and I would be surprised if it didn't do well in the test.
The Aveo just needs to go away.
I think the only accurate safety rating would combine Roof Strength Testing with Rollover Likelihood Testing.
The problem with just checking roof strength is that a stronger roof is probably going to be heavier – it’ll increase the likelihood of a rollover. That means more accidents, which can cause serious head and neck injuries even if the roof doesn’t crush.
I’m also not convinced that the roof strength test models real rollovers well, but it’s hard to come up with the perfect answer.
The number of people killed in roll overs falls dramatically once you discount the ones that didn't wear seatbelts.
Most newer cars hold up very well in roll overs but you can't help people who won't help themselves.
They need to test Midsize SUV's.
@cx7lover
They did test the Subaru Tribeca and it got a "good" rating but I don't think any other mid size suvs were tested.
I suspect rollover accidents are the most lethal because if you hit something or were hit hard enough to roll over you or the other vehicle were travelling at a lethal speed. I'd love to know how many rollover deaths occurred from the initial impact before the vehicle rolled over