Crash Tests of Small Cars – Find Out How Your Car Rates

As gasoline prices soared in 2008, many people began taking a second look at small cars. Small cars have become increasing popular as consumers are looking to be more conservative with their spending and withstand gas price fluctuations. However, as a consumer, you need to know how small cars stack up in safety ratings.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently conducted crash tests of seven 2009 model small cars, including the Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Saturn Astra, Suzuki SX4 and Toyota Matrix. Researchers discovered that although most of these small cars earned good ratings in frontal crash tests, they did not do so well when it came to side and rear crashes. Only the SX4 and Matrix and its twin Pontiac Vibe earned good ratings for protection in side crashes. The Focus was the only one that earned a good rating for protection in rear collisions.

If you drive a small car, you may be wondering how safe you would be if you were involved in a car accident. According to Joe Nolan, the vice president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “automakers have made big improvements to small cars to better protect people in frontal crashes. They’ve also added stronger structures and standard head-protecting side airbags to help in side crashes, which are tougher on smaller, lighter cars.”

There has actually been some improvement in small car models, as eleven of the 21 vehicles tested earned good ratings for side protection, which is better than the last evaluation in 2006. Side airbags are now standard in all of the seven small cars that were tested. However, smaller cars still have less protection than larger vehicles in an accident. “There’s no escaping the laws of physics. People in larger, heavier cars fare better in crashes with other vehicles and in single-vehicle crashes than people in smaller ones,” said Nolan.

Based on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s crash tests, the organization has named top safety picks for 2009 small cars, which includes the Honda Civic 4-door (except the Si model), Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota Corolla, all with optional electronic stability control (ESC) and the Scion xB, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagon Rabbit 4-door, all with standard ESC.

If you have been injured in a Florida car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your auto accident injuries. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of William K. Saron at (866) 836-4947 or (727) 345-4566 for expert legal advice. We will help you recover damages for your car accident case.