| Acura TL, TSX and Nissan Maxima earn tops in 40 mph crash tests
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| Groo |
Arlington, Virginia - In 40 mph frontal offset crash tests conducted recently by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, five of six new or redesigned midsize cars earned good ratings: Acura TL, Acura TSX, Nissan Maxima, Chevrolet Malibu, and Mitsubishi Galant. Both Acuras and the Maxima also earned "best pick" designations in the frontal test. The only car tested that didn't earn a good rating was the Suzuki Verona, which is rated acceptable.
The Institute has tested previous designs of the Galant, Maxima, and Malibu. In each case the performance of the new model improved.
Vehicle ratings reflect performance in 40 mph frontal offset crash tests into a deformable barrier. Based on the results, the Institute rates each vehicle from good to poor. If a vehicle earns a good rating, it means that in a real-world crash of similar severity a driver using a safety belt would be likely to walk away with little or no injury.
The first crash test of the Suzuki Verona revealed a serious airbag problem, so the Verona was tested twice. The first test revealed that the driver airbag was only partially inflated during much of the crash. Then late in the crash the airbag fully inflated, throwing the dummy's head violently backward into the door pillar. Very high injury measures were recorded on the dummy's head during this impact. Suzuki engineers subsequently determined there was a manufacturing defect -- the airbag inflation module was improperly wired.
"What happened in the first test of the Verona led Suzuki to identify a serious safety-related defect, which was fixed for cars in production. All models produced earlier were recalled. When we tested a second Verona with the defect fixed, the airbag deployed correctly," Lund says.
The Verona's structure held up well in the Institute's frontal offset test. However, "the driver seat pitched forward slightly and tipped toward the door," Lund points out. "Forces recorded on the dummy indicated the likelihood of leg injuries. This is why the Verona didn't earn the Institute's highest rating of good."
Compared with its two predecessor models, the new Galant is a good example of improved structural design. "The 1995 Galant was one of the worst performers in the frontal offset test," Lund says. "The occupant compartment virtually collapsed, the dummy moved to the left of the deploying airbag, and the windshield frame was driven back toward the dummy's head. Plus the dummy's left knee crashed through the dashboard and hit the steering column assembly." When the Institute tested a redesigned 1999 Galant, its structure had been improved, and it earned an acceptable rating. Still there was moderate rearward movement of the instrument panel and intrusion into the driver footwell area that could lead to lower leg injury.
"The structure of the 2004 Galant was much better," Lund says. "The space around the driver dummy was well maintained, and there was minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. The possibility of a lower right leg injury kept the Galant from earning the added designation of ‘best pick' in the frontal test."
Once rated poor, Nissan Maxima now is a "best pick" in the frontal test: The 1995 Maxima was rated poor. It was one of the few cars the Institute tested that year with high injury measures on both legs. Even though the car's structure was rated acceptable, there was moderate intrusion into the footwell area.
The Chevrolet Malibu improved from acceptable to good. "The structure of the old Malibu held up reasonably well, but the dummy's head hit the inside of the door below the window sill and then contacted the roof pillar beside the driver seat," Lund says. "The steering wheel also moved upward, which can reduce the protection of the seat belt and airbag."
The performance of the 2004 Malibu improved compared with the 1999 model. There was minimal movement of the instrument panel and steering wheel. The occupant compartment did a good job of preventing major intrusion during the test. However, the possibility of head and leg injuries kept the Malibu from earning the "best pick" designation in the frontal test.
"These new and redesigned midsize cars are performing much better in our offset test, compared with just a few years ago." Lund concludes. "In fact, no current midsize car designs are rated marginal, and only one earns the Institute's lowest rating of poor -- the Pontiac Grand Am and its twin, the Oldsmobile Alero. This design dates back to 1999." |
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| Fabvsix |
| What doesn't make sense, why would they compare an Acura TL with a Nissan MaximaChevy POS ? Maxima - Accord - Chevy POS, but not Acura.........:rolleyes: :rolleyes: |
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| Jim03MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
What doesn't make sense, why would they compare an Acura TL with a Nissan MaximaChevy POS ? Maxima - Accord - Chevy POS, but not Acura.........:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
It's not a comparison. It's just an update on recent tests. |
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| Fabvsix |
I understand, but if it said "Rolls Royce" and Ford Pinto would you find that a bit odd ?
I would think to include with the Acura TL, Infiniti G35/Lexus XXX etc.....not a Nissan and a low end Chevy POS......or a Acura TSX (a European version of the Accord called a TSX :rolleyes: ) |
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| wmquan |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
I understand, but if it said "Rolls Royce" and Ford Pinto would you find that a bit odd ?
I would think to include with the Acura TL, Infiniti G35/Lexus XXX etc.....not a Nissan and a low end Chevy POS......or a Acura TSX (a European version of the Accord called a TSX :rolleyes: )
Rolls Royce and a Pinto are way apart. A Nissan Maxima and an Acura TL aren't that far apart. Both are high-powered FWD sedans that aren't quite true RWD sport sedans like a G35.
They already tested the G35, Lexus IS300, Lexus ES300/330, Mercedes C-class. The TL is just a newer model. Would it be better for them to withhold the TL's test results until Infiniti releases a new G35 and Lexus replaces the IS300?
Sure the TSX is a modified Euro Accord. But the TL is a (more heavily) modified U.S. Accord.
If it makes you happier, here's how IIHS positions the TL:
http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings...mary_midlux.htm |
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