IIHS Adds Fourth Test Category: Roof Strength

Tiny as they are, Smart Fortwos perform quite well in IIHS crash tests thanks to its built in safety cage.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an association of auto insurance companies who track how well vehicles perform in a crash. These tests go far in helping member companies decide how much to charge customers, which means automakers know that a low score could result in higher insurance premiums. High premiums can keep shoppers away from purchasing a particular model, thus the importance of performing well.

Thousands Killed Annually In Rollovers

Up until recently the IIHS tested cars for front, side and rear impact, but they didn’t test these cars for roof impact which happens as a result of vehicle roll overs. Roof strength is critical because if your roof collapses, you and your passengers could be seriously injured or killed. About 10,000 people are killed annually due to rollovers, which is about one-fourth of all vehicle deaths in the US.

To roll out its new test, the IIHS decided to test the smallest cars on the road – a group of micro and mini-cars that may soon become dominate on our roads especially if gas prices begin to surge once again. The Smart Fortwo, Chevy Aveo, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent were each tested with some surprising results – the Fortwo’s roof was the strongest while the Aveo was the weakest, the latter model given a “marginal” rating by the IIHS.

Smart Fortwo Cage

IIHS research has shown that car roofs have gotten strong lately, which is good news for consumers. In the case of the Smart Fortwo, which is enveloped in a safety cage, roof strength is superior to most cars on the road.

“We anticipate that our roof strength test will drive improved rollover crash protection the same way our frontal offset and side tests have led to better occupant protection in these kinds of crashes,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “Small cars should have an easier time with the roof strength test,” Lund explains. “Their light weight means their roofs don’t have to work as hard to keep the structure around the occupants intact in a rollover.”

More Tests Soon

Likely, we’ll hear some pretty bad news as the IIHS test expands to incorporate more body styles with SUVs expected to perform poorly. Minivans, crossovers and any other larger vehicle will probably have a difficult time getting a score above acceptable with perhaps marginal being the common score among some segments.

Source: IIHS

See Also — IIHS Recognizes Ford Safety Among This Year’s Top Picks

Ford Focus Garners Top Safety Pick

Ford touts safety along with very good gas mileage for the compact Focus. A recent IIHS determination awarded the car its top safety pick too.

It was in April or May of last year when I first learned how strong sales were for the Ford Focus. An older model, the Focus has always lagged well behind industry leaders Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla when it came to winning the hearts and minds of small car segment car buyers.

The Focus isn’t exactly a design achievement nor is it as refined as other vehicles in its class. But last year its hands-free voice activated SYNC system got a lot of press and it turned out that the Focus was the right car as gas prices edged up to four dollars a gallon.

Important Safety Award Earned

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) an organization for the insurance industry, recently awarded the Ford Focus with its “top safety pick” award. Equipped with six airbags including side curtain airbags and utilizing a stainless steel body structure along with stability control, the Focus is able to protect occupants in crashes quite well.

Quoting Sue Cischke, Ford Group Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, “The Focus is another example of how Ford is leading the way in enhancing safety and saving fuel; a commitment backed up the most top crash safety ratings and leading fuel economy with each new vehicle.”

2011 Ford Focus Is All New

The current generation Focus is near the end of its lifespan. A 2011 model will roll out next year, a car based on the European version of the car. The all new Focus will follow the Ford Fiesta to the market, yet another European designed car to be sold by Ford in North America.

Source: Ford Motor Company

See Also — Ford Confirms Fiesta Production, Hatchback Plans