Premium Cars Fail Crash Safety Tests

Does paying more money make your car safer? Many believe it does but this news will prove it wrong. German premium cars which are generally considered safe have failed in a major crash test. The recently launched BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4 all have rated poor in the frontal car crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted crash tests to provide an independent safety assessment of premium cars. The cars crash tested also include the Acura TL, Lexus IS, Nissan Infinity G, Volvo S60 and Ford Lincoln MKZ. The crash test results showed that many cars did not have the capacity to prevent injuries to the front passenger in case of a frontal crash.

The only car that earned a good rating during the frontal crash test was the Volvo S60. The Infiniti G could get an acceptable rating and all other cars could only manage a poor rating.

The reason behind the poor rating in these cars is due the fact that the dummies used during the test had their right legs struck under the brake pedal. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety was assessing the cars on the basis of structural integrity, effectiveness of restraints and the potential injuries to the occupants.

The tests were conducted on all entry level cars from premium brands and as you notice, none of the German premium cars that are currently being sold in India have got a good rating. The low rating is not only due to the cars now doing good in the frontal crash tests but also during small overlap crashes where only one corner of the car is crashed.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has stated that this low rating is due to the fact that carmakers design their cars equipped only to handle the US NHTSA's full frontal crash test and not the small overlap crashes.

If safety is the only reason you are buying an expensive premium car, the best car available in India is the Volvo S60. Volvo is a brand that has become synonymous with safety. It has introduced several safety features and the latest test results also prove the same.

Source: Oneindia