majic
05-31-2007, 02:48 PM
http://www.leftlanenews.com/iihs-tests-convertibles-saab-volvo-on-top-g6-3-series-disappoint.html
The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Pick" award for superior crash protection in the first ever tests the Institute has conducted of convertible models.
The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes.
"The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind. The Saab and Volvo not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes."
G6, 3-Series "especially disappointing"
The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's "acceptable" for frontal crash protection but only "marginal" for protection in side and rear impacts. What's more, the G6's driver seat came loose on one of its tracks and moved forward 4 inches on the left side. The dummy's head slid around the left side of the airbag and hit the instrument panel.
While the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes.
Side impact protection is marginal in 3 cars: The Institute's side test represents what happens when the striking vehicle is a pickup or SUV. The BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 equipped with standard side airbags and the G6 with side airbags as optional equipment earn the second lowest rating for side impact protection.
"The 3-Series and Pontiac G6 are especially disappointing because they're new models," Lund says. "Other auto manufacturers have figured out how to provide good side impact protection for occupants of convertibles."
It's not all about price
Two of the least expensive models among the 10 the Institute tested are the Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Eclipse, both of which recently were redesigned and earn good ratings in front and side crash tests.
"You could spend twice as much for an Audi A4 convertible, which is an older design based on the previous A4 sedan, but it's rated marginal in our side test," Lund says. Based on the Volkswagen Eos's performance, the Institute expects a redesigned A4 to perform better when it's released. VW and Audi are owned by the same parent company.
Rollbars suggested
The IIHS recommends buying a convertible with rollbars, which deploy automatically if sensors detect the possibility of a rollover. Pop-up rollbars are standard on the 9-3, C70, Eos, 3-Series, and A4 but unavailable on any of the domestic or Asian brands the Institute tested.
Little focus on whiplash
Rear crash protection is mostly poor: Significant differences also were apparent among the convertibles in the protection they afford in rear crashes. Only the Volvo and Saab are equipped with seat/head restraint designs that provide good protection against whiplash injury. The other 8 models are rated marginal or poor for rear crash protection.
The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Pick" award for superior crash protection in the first ever tests the Institute has conducted of convertible models.
The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes.
"The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind. The Saab and Volvo not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes."
G6, 3-Series "especially disappointing"
The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's "acceptable" for frontal crash protection but only "marginal" for protection in side and rear impacts. What's more, the G6's driver seat came loose on one of its tracks and moved forward 4 inches on the left side. The dummy's head slid around the left side of the airbag and hit the instrument panel.
While the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes.
Side impact protection is marginal in 3 cars: The Institute's side test represents what happens when the striking vehicle is a pickup or SUV. The BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 equipped with standard side airbags and the G6 with side airbags as optional equipment earn the second lowest rating for side impact protection.
"The 3-Series and Pontiac G6 are especially disappointing because they're new models," Lund says. "Other auto manufacturers have figured out how to provide good side impact protection for occupants of convertibles."
It's not all about price
Two of the least expensive models among the 10 the Institute tested are the Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Eclipse, both of which recently were redesigned and earn good ratings in front and side crash tests.
"You could spend twice as much for an Audi A4 convertible, which is an older design based on the previous A4 sedan, but it's rated marginal in our side test," Lund says. Based on the Volkswagen Eos's performance, the Institute expects a redesigned A4 to perform better when it's released. VW and Audi are owned by the same parent company.
Rollbars suggested
The IIHS recommends buying a convertible with rollbars, which deploy automatically if sensors detect the possibility of a rollover. Pop-up rollbars are standard on the 9-3, C70, Eos, 3-Series, and A4 but unavailable on any of the domestic or Asian brands the Institute tested.
Little focus on whiplash
Rear crash protection is mostly poor: Significant differences also were apparent among the convertibles in the protection they afford in rear crashes. Only the Volvo and Saab are equipped with seat/head restraint designs that provide good protection against whiplash injury. The other 8 models are rated marginal or poor for rear crash protection.