Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Civic aces tough IIHS crash test | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

After some mixed results from early models tested in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) new small overlap crash test, the latest batch of vehicles earn top scores.

The Volvo XC60 and two- and four-door versions of the Honda Civic earn Good ratings for small overlap protection. Both the Lincoln MKZ and the redesigned 2014 Mazda6 sedans earned an Acceptable rating in the latest test.

For this test, vehicles careen into a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph, replicating the impact with a tree or pole. The simulated crash involves just 25 percent of the width of the vehicle, concentrating the force on essentially the driver-side front corner.

To reward good performers, the IIHS added a "+" to their coveted Top Safety Pick award for those models that earn a Good or Acceptable in this rigorous test. To qualify for a Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn Good ratings in at least four out of five of their tests, which include the moderate front overlap crash, side impact, rollover, and evaluations of how well seat and head restraints protect occupants from neck injuries in rear impacts. Plus, the car has to earn no less than an Acceptable in the small front overlap crash test.

The Honda Civic is the first small car to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award. For 2013, the Civic received significant front structural upgrades in the car body and cabin to improve its performance in the small overlap test. (Honda made numerous other notable improvements to the Civic for 2013, addressing several key criticisms.) To improve the XC60 performance, Volvo engineers changed an algorithm to cause the side curtain airbag to deploy in this type of crash.

Previous models that have earned the Top Safety Pick+ designation include: Acura TL, Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord coupe, Honda Accord sedan, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Suzuki Kizashi, and Volvo S60.

The recent tests of all five of these vehicles were made at the request of manufacturers. IIHS is currently working through a schedule to get more vehicles tested in this new protocol. As more vehicles are rated, we'll include those ratings in our online and magazine coverage.

Source;
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/03/2013-honda-civic-aces-tough-iihs-crash-test-xc60-mazda6-mkz.html

Honda Cars : Acura TL Aces Stricter IIHS Frontal Crash Test, VW CC Loses a Door | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

2012 Acura TL Side View in new overlap crash test.

2012 Infiniti G aftermath

2012 Volkswagon CC

The Volvo S60 and Acura TL have aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s newest requirement to earn Top Safety Pick status. Not too long ago, the IIHS added the roof strength test, but with the stricter frontal crash test, the institute is already looking to make it a bit tougher for vehicles to earn the coveted designation.

The new small overlap frontal crash test, designed to simulate what would happen when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or object, constitutes the front end of the driver’s side striking a five-foot tall rigid barrier at 40 mph. The IIHS claims this is the first test of its kind conducted outside of automakers’ proving grounds in the U.S. and Europe. In its first round of testing 11 midsize luxury and premium cars, only three earned good or acceptable ratings.

 Along with the good rating of the Volvo S60 and Acura TL, the Infiniti G earned an acceptable rating, while the Acura TSX, BMW 3 Series, and Lincoln MKZ earned a marginal rating. All 11 models tested were from the 2012 model year. Poor ratings were received by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS 250/350, Lexus ES 350, and Audi A4. As for the Volkswagen CC, the four-door was the first vehicle the IIHS had ever evaluated to completely lose its door.

The new test comes after a 2009 IIHS study revealed small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of frontal accidents that led to serious injuries or fatalities for front-seat occupants, suggesting it was more important to test vehicles for that type of crash.

 “These are severe crashes, and our new test reflects that,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund. “Most automakers design their vehicles to ace our moderate overlap frontal test and NHTSA’s full-width frontal test, but the problem of small overlap crashes hasn’t been addressed. We hope our new rating program will change that.”

Currently, the IIHS evaluates front, side, rollover, and rear crashes, with the front rating based on a moderate overlap test. The existing criteria will continue on for 2013, but vehicles that pass the small overlap test with flying colors will be recognized. Midsize cars, such as the top-selling Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Ford Fusion will make up the next round of small frontal crash testing.

Source;

http://wot.motortrend.com/acura-tl-aces-stricter-iihs-frontal-crash-test-vw-cc-loses-a-door-246439.html