The study includes only passenger vehicles with side airbags, demonstrating that airbags, while crucial, are far from the whole story
in side crash protection.
All earn the highest rating of good for occupant protection in frontal crashes, and all but one were good
for side crash protection.
Although the
overall side crash protection still would have been rated good, with low risk of injuries to both driver and rear passenger dummies, Nissan engineers were concerned about the interference with the deployment of the side curtain airbag.
In selecting the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the IIHS noted the addition of torso airbags to
bolster side crash protection to the vehicle's already comprehensive list of safety features.
The NHTSA gave the 2016 Rogue four out of five stars for overall crash protection (four stars on front crash protection, and five stars
on side crash protection), and the IIHS gave the Rogue the highest rating of «Good» in all categories.
«Inside IIHS: Side testing» shows the Institute's moving deformable side impact crash test barrier and the dummies used in the side test, and explains the evolution
of side crash protection.
The four - door Yaris received four stars out of five for overall crash protection from the government, with four stars for overall front protection and five stars for
overall side crash protection.
The Crew Cab Tacoma racked up three out of five stars in frontal crash impact protection and five stars
in side crash protection.
All but the Kia Optima earn the top rating of good
for side crash protection (Malibu's rating applies to cars built after February 2008).
Five models earn the highest rating of good for front and
side crash protection.
In recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, the 2008 Smart Fortwo, the smallest car for sale in the U.S. market, earned the top rating of good for front and
side crash protection.
Safety: The 2010 Outback got perfect 5 stars out of 5 for front and
side crash protection, and 4 stars for rollover resistance from the NHTSA.
For 2011, the NHTSA brought more stringent tests, where the 2011 and 2012 Ford Escape got three stars overall with three stars for the front and
side crash protection and three stars for rollover resistance.
In government crash testing, the Altima sedan received a perfect five stars for overall, frontal and
side crash protection.
On the safety front, the Nano comes well equipped with impact cushioning crumple zone, reinforced body structure for enhanced frontal crash safety, robust side doors with intrusion beams for
side crash protection, anti-roll bar for high speed stability and SUV - like ground clearance of 180 mm.
«This is very good performance, and the 2005 Malibu with side airbags is a «best pick» for
side crash protection,» Lund says.
«The GS is one of three large luxury cars we've tested that earns the top rating for both front and
side crash protection,» says Institute president Adrian Lund.
In government crash testing, the S60 earned a perfect five - star rating for overall crash protection, with five stars each for total frontal and
side crash protection.
The Institute has conducted its first evaluations of vehicles for
side crash protection.
Safety: The NHTSA awarded the 2009 and 2010 Forester with five stars out of five for frontal and
side crash protection and 4 stars for rollover resistance.
In government crash testing, the Grand Cherokee earned an overall rating of four stars out of a possible five, with four stars for overall frontal crash protection and five stars for overall
side crash protection.
The Fusion without optional side airbags is rated poor for
side crash protection, and it earned a marginal rating for rear crash protection.
Those considered «best choices» for under $ 20,000 also have good ratings for
side crash protection, good head restraints and seats for rear crash protection, and good roof strength to protect occupants in rollover crashes.
In recent IIHS tests, the 2008 Smart Fortwo, the smallest car for sale in the U.S. market, earned the top rating of good for front and
side crash protection.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500 and Nissan Titan are billed as workhorses, but
the side crash protection these 2009 model large pickups provide is wimpy, at best.
This car is designated a «best pick» for
side crash protection, and it's a good performer for frontal crash protection.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave a ranking of â $ œGoodâ $ on the Escape Hybridâ $ ™ s frontal offset and
side crash protection.
The Volvo S60 has earned perfect scores in many tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning five stars for overall crash protection,
side crash protection, and total front protection.
Each received the top 5 - star safety rating for front and
side crash protection in the agency's New Car Assessment Program and 4 stars for rollover protection.