The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently evaluated 2012-year-model midsize luxury and near-luxury cars in a new small overlap frontal crash test. Of the 11 vehicles evaluated, only three earned a “good” or “acceptable” rating, with the remaining eight cars earning either “marginal” or “poor” ratings.
The new test was designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object. With a dummy belted in the driver seat, 25 percent of the car's front end on the driver side would strike a five-foot-tall rigid barrier while traveling at 40 miles per hour. Vehicle performance was rated in three categories: structure, restraints and kinematics, in addition to dummy injury measures.
Click next to see which vehicles were rated “good,” “acceptable,” “marginal,” and “poor.”
Good: Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 was the most structurally-sound vehicle tested by the IIHS. Reinforced upper rails and a steel cross member below the instrument panel allowed for only a few inches of intrusion. Volvo has performed similar small overlap tests as part of its vehicle safety development process since the late 1980s.
Good: Acura TL
If airbags deploy in side impacts, they can protect the head from contact with structures and objects. The Acura TL received good marks because its front and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structures or objects that could cause injury.
Acceptable: Infiniti G
The majority of the cars tested had a problem with too much occupant compartment intrusion, such as exterior vehicle parts being crushed into the interior. Several vehicles had high risk of injury for the legs and feet.
Marginal: Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC was the first vehicle evaluated by the IIHS to completely lose its door during testing. The driver door was sheared off its hinges, which is troublesome because doors should remain closed during a crash to prevent passengers from being ejected from vehicles.
Marginal: Lincoln MKZ
In the Lincoln MKZ test, the dummy's head and chest completely missed the front airbag as the steering column moved to the right. The side curtain airbag deployed but didn't extend far enough forward to protect the dummy's head.
Marginal: Acura TSX
Many vehicles received low marks because of occupant motion. In some cases, the dummy missed the airbags, causing potentially serious head injuries.
Marginal: BMW 3 Series
Other injuries caused to the dummy were due to safety belts allowing its head and torso to move too far forward.
Poor: Lexus IS
In the Lexus IS test, the dummy's left foot was entrapped by intruding structure and its right foot was wedged beneath the brake pedal.
Poor: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
In the Mercedes C-Class test, the dummy's right foot ended up wedged beneath the brake pedal as the left front wheel was forced rearward during the crash.
Poor: Audi A4
During the crash, the driver door on the Audi A4 opened but remained attached to the car.
Poor: Lexus ES
Luxury and near-luxury cars were the first to be subjected to the overlap test because these models typically get advanced safety features sooner than other vehicles.
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