IIHS Adds Passenger-Side Small Overlap Test to Awards Criteria
10 of 13 midsize cars performed well in new test
For the upcoming year, vehicles will have to pass an additional crash test if they want to qualify for the highest award available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The new passenger-side small overlap test replicates what happens when a vehicle's right corner crashes into an object or another vehicle at 40 mph.
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IIHS has issued ratings in the small overlap test for several years now, but only on the driver's side of the vehicle. Starting with the 2018 awards cycle, vehicles will have to earn "Good" or "Acceptable" ratings in the passenger-side test to be considered for the Top Safety Pick+ award.
The agency has already tested 13 midsize cars, and most of them performed well in the new crash category. The cars that earned "Good" scores include the 2017 Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Lincoln MKZ, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima as well as the 2018 Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, and Toyota Camry. The 2017 Volkswagen Jetta squeaked by with an "Acceptable" rating.
Two sedans earned "Marginal" ratings: the 2017 Volkswagen Passat and Chevrolet Malibu. In both vehicles, the dummy's head slid off the airbag and hit the dashboard. In the real world, such a crash could cause head injuries, says IIHS.
Despite a few issues, these vehicles generally performed much better in the test than vehicles that were previously tested for research. Unlike a group of 2014-2016 small SUVs that IIHS evaluated, none of the new crop of vehicles showed signs of structural problems. Instead, some of the new vehicles need to work on airbag protection, IIHS claims.
For this test, IIHS will accept test data and video footage from automakers to issue a score. If a car has a "Good" driver-side small overlap rating, IIHS may rate the vehicle's passenger-side capabilities based on data submitted by automakers rather than its own tests.
Source: IIHS
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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