Minicars fall short for small overlap frontal protection

[speedog]

Minicars fall short for small overlap frontal protection - link (http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/minicars-fall-short-for-small-overlap-frontal-protection) to story and associated video below.

Am surprised that a Chev tested as best and a Honda at the bottom of the pile...

-bdydHzCO5s

[schocker]

I thought most cars with the exception of new models, are bad at frontal overlap as it was a new test?

[Xtrema]

Poor Honda Fit. They do this just as they are about to release a new model that may pass this test.

Yes, no model older than 2013 do well in this test, heck even the new 2014 Corolla has a poor showing. Smaller car are worse for obvious reasons.

As the manufacturers added a rebar to cheat the 1/2 offset, I'm sure they will find a way to beat the 1/4 offset as well.

[speedog]

I suppose that a good thing about beating even the 1/4 offset is safer cars for more people.

[e31]

I've never heard of the term "Minicar" used for that automobile segment. Usually it's something along the lines of "Shitbox" or "Throw-away car".

[Ca_Silvia13]

Originally posted by e31
I've never heard of the term "Minicar" used for that automobile segment. Usually it's something along the lines of "Shitbox" or "Throw-away car".

Let's call a spade a spade. They're all "death traps" at higway speeds

[n1zm0]

Originally posted by e31
I've never heard of the term "Minicar" used for that automobile segment. Usually it's something along the lines of "Shitbox" or "Throw-away car".

these are sub-compacts in the North American market imo, to me a 'minicar' is something like a Smart fortwo or a Toyota iQ, but I guess even those 2 are considered sub-compacts :confused:

[speedog]

Believe a Smart Fortwo or Scion IQ is considered a micro here in NA. Subcompact would be Fit, Fiesta, Sonic. Compact would be Cruze, Focus.

[DeleriousZ]

'buy a larger hybrid model instead'

hmmmm..

[mikestypes]

Cars with steel wheels always seem to do terrible on this test because they do not shatter like aluminum wheels. Instead, they deform at the edge then get pushed into the foot well.

Toyota has performed poorly on most of these high offset crashes as they did not prepare their models to meet it when announced several years ago. They have upgraded their cars with reinforcements in the fenders now.