Overclocker
04-07-07, 12:20 PM
Date posted: 04-05-2007
ARLINGTON, Va. — A long roll call of 2007 vehicles ranging from the Cadillac STS to the Honda Accord got the lowest score of "poor" in the latest round of ratings for neck and whiplash protection from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The vehicles occupying the cellar include the Acura TSX; some versions of the BMW 5 Series; Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne; Cadillac CTS, STS and DTS; Chevrolet Aveo; Honda Accord and Fit; Hyundai Accent; Infiniti M35; Jaguar X-Type; Kia Rio; Mitsubishi Galant; Pontiac Grand Prix; Toyota Avalon and Corolla; and the Suzuki Forenza and Reno.
Among the top vehicles for head protection, according to the new tests, were the Audi A4, A6 and S4; Chevrolet Cobalt; Ford Five Hundred; Honda Civic two-door and four-door versions; Hyundai Sonata; Jaguar S-Type; Kia Optima; Mercedes E-Class; Mercury Montego; Nissan Sentra and Versa; Saab 9-3; Subaru Impreza, Legacy and Outback; some versions of the Volkswagen New Beetle; and Volvo S40, S60 and S80.
The insurance institute noted that seat/head restraints in two of every three models are marginal or poor. Only 22 of 75 vehicles tested in a simulated rear crash at 20 mph got the top score of "good." The institute estimated that neck injuries account for 2 million insurance claims annually, costing at least $8.5 billion.
What this means to you: You'll have to do your homework if you want to figure out which vehicles are the best for head and neck protection.
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=120320
ARLINGTON, Va. — A long roll call of 2007 vehicles ranging from the Cadillac STS to the Honda Accord got the lowest score of "poor" in the latest round of ratings for neck and whiplash protection from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The vehicles occupying the cellar include the Acura TSX; some versions of the BMW 5 Series; Buick LaCrosse and Lucerne; Cadillac CTS, STS and DTS; Chevrolet Aveo; Honda Accord and Fit; Hyundai Accent; Infiniti M35; Jaguar X-Type; Kia Rio; Mitsubishi Galant; Pontiac Grand Prix; Toyota Avalon and Corolla; and the Suzuki Forenza and Reno.
Among the top vehicles for head protection, according to the new tests, were the Audi A4, A6 and S4; Chevrolet Cobalt; Ford Five Hundred; Honda Civic two-door and four-door versions; Hyundai Sonata; Jaguar S-Type; Kia Optima; Mercedes E-Class; Mercury Montego; Nissan Sentra and Versa; Saab 9-3; Subaru Impreza, Legacy and Outback; some versions of the Volkswagen New Beetle; and Volvo S40, S60 and S80.
The insurance institute noted that seat/head restraints in two of every three models are marginal or poor. Only 22 of 75 vehicles tested in a simulated rear crash at 20 mph got the top score of "good." The institute estimated that neck injuries account for 2 million insurance claims annually, costing at least $8.5 billion.
What this means to you: You'll have to do your homework if you want to figure out which vehicles are the best for head and neck protection.
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=120320