Small SUVs hold up in crash tests | automotive news

The Arlington, Va.-based organization had particularly harsh words for the 2008 two-door Jeep Wrangler, which has optional side air bags. The insurance institute said the driver door opened during the crash test. ?We?ve rarely seen a vehicle go in the wrong direction and get a worse rating after it had been redesigned,? President Adrian Lund said. The Patriot got acceptable marks for front and rear tests, and good for side crashes when it?s equipped with optional side airbags. Without the airbags, its side crash rating dropped to marginal. ?No single crash test provides a full picture of a vehicle?s crashworthiness,? Chrysler spokesman Max Gates said. The Jeep Wrangler ?meets or exceeds all applicable federal safety standards, and performed well in the government?s crash test program.? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety noted that all of the vehicles tested now have electronic stability control (ESC) standard, an anti-rollover technology that will be required on all vehicles by the 2012 model year. In contrast, in 2003, most small SUVs got either marginal or poor ratings in side tests and ESC was ?rare,? the institute said. In previous ratings by the institute, the Honda CR-V, Honda Element and Subaru Forester got top marks. Equinox, Torrent marginalGM?s Chevrolet Equinox and its cousin the Pontiac Torrent got marginal ratings for both side and rear crash tests, and good for frontal crash tests. The Equinox and Jeep were the only vehicles tested with standard side air bags, but the Equinox will have standard side airbags starting in the 2009 model year. GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey said the vehicles ?meet or exceed all federal safety standards and have performed very well in other consumer information tests,? adding that ?the IIHS side crash test is a single and very severe test.? Erich Merkle, an auto analyst with Crowe Chizek and Co., said the small SUV segment is holding up compared to larger SUVs and as consumers demand more safety features. ?People aren?t leaving the segment. They are shifting down to smaller more fuel-efficient versions,? Merkle said. ?You don?t have to go cold turkey to find a vehicle that gets better gas mileage. You can?t strap the kids on top of the Focus if you?re used to driving an Explorer.? The new Ford Escape has a redesigned seat, which improved the rear crash rating, along with standard side airbags. ?We?ve devoted many hours to analyzing and perfecting the body structure, safety belts and airbags of Escape and Mariner for better performance in front and side impact crashes,? said Steve Kozak, Ford?s chief engineer for safety systems. The insurance institute praised the VW Tiguan, which went on sale in June. ?The Tiguan?s performance is a standout,? Lund said. ?It sailed through the front and side crash tests without a single downgrade.? Volkswagen showed off the Tiguan last weekend during the Woodward Dream Cruise. ?Safety is a big factor since a lot of buyers are hauling their kids around,? VW spokesman Jim Gill said. You can reach David Shepardson at (202) 662-8735 or dshepardson@detnews.com.

Source: http://www.gopctex.com/2011/small-suvs-hold-up-in-crash-tests/

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