New crash test measures corner impact
The new test, the small overlap offset frontal crash test, was developed by the IIHS, an insurance industry-funded nonprofit organization. In 2009, the IIHS discovered that almost a quarter of all frontal crashes resulting in severe injuries and fatalities were small overlap crashes, even among vehicles with good safety ratings. The new small overlap offset test was developed to better understand cars’ performance in these types of car accidents and the safety risks involved. In the test, cars are driven at 40 mph into a barrier. The angle of the crash is set so 25 percent of the front of the car hits the barrier. The test simulates what happens when a corner of a car hits another car or runs into an object like a pole or tree. According to the IIHS, several factors cause small overlap offset frontal crashes to be especially dangerous. First, side airbags are designed to inflate upon a direct side impact and may not react appropriately to a corner impact, when a passenger may nonetheless move toward the side of vehicle. Further, if the side airbag does deploy, the front and side airbags may leave an open area that does not protect occupants from impact against the dashboard, windowsill or windshield pillar. Finally, in an offset frontal crash, the vehicle moves sideways away from the barrier after impact, but the occupants continue moving forward due to momentum and inertia. This can cause dangerous, damaging contact with the car’s interior structures.Crash test results
Recently, the IIHS tested 18 midsize family cars in the small overlap offset frontal crash test. The cars’ performance, with ratings of good, acceptable, marginal and poor, was as follows:- Good: Honda Accord, Suzuki Kizashi
- Acceptable: Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Honda Accord coupe, Ford Fusion, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Passat
- Marginal: Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Volkswagen Jetta
- Poor: Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius v