- 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the 2011 BMW 5 Series scored five stars in the latest NHTSA crash tests.
- Score combines the results of a frontal crash test, side crash tests and rollover resistance tests.
- The new crash tests are more "rigorous" than the old ones, says NHTSA.
WASHINGTON — The 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the 2011 BMW 5 Series got the highest rating, five stars, in the latest round of U.S. crash tests, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2011 Nissan Versa earned just two out of five stars, while the 2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid were in the middle of the pack with three stars.
The new crash tests are more "rigorous" than the old ones, said NHTSA. Under the old program, there was grade inflation, with many vehicles being awarded the highest score.
The new Overall Vehicle Score combines the results of a frontal crash test, side crash tests and rollover resistance tests. The ratings range from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest and five stars the highest.
Among the 2011 models getting overall four-star ratings are the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fiesta, Honda Pilot, Infiniti M37, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback and Toyota Sienna.
Only the BMW 5 Series got the five-star rating in the first round. NHTSA pointed out that the first Sonata tested received four stars and then was retested at the request of the company. The latest model of the Sonata, which is currently in production, received five stars.
NHTSA also announced that female crash dummies were used for the first time under a new testing regime.
For model-year 2011, NHTSA said it will rate 24 passenger cars, 20 SUVs, two vans and nine pickups under the new ratings systems. The agency said it is continuing to test 2011 cars and trucks and will add the results on its Web site as they become available.
Inside Line says: If you're buying strictly on safety ratings, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the 2011 BMW 5 Series should be at the top of your list. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
pentimentos says:
02:09 PM, 12/28/2010
Unfortunately, the new ratings are meaningless in terms of insurance rates. We just traded a 2010 RDX AWD for the 2011 Sonata SE. We did not like the RDX handling and the expense of synthetic oil/ premium gas etc made the car just not worth the extra expense....and, we really love the way the Sonata looks.
Our insurance was jacked up $136.00 for the year...because apparently more Sonata drivers have accidents than those who drive the RDX. I contacted the IIHS, and they confirmed that the stats are proportionate to the number of a particular model on the road.
If the new design results in far less accidents/injury/costs to the insurers, that could change...but it will take a t least a year or two before that happens.
Meanwhile, we get to pay more insurance for a car that has been rated as safer.
So much for 5 stars when it comes to insurance rates.
enormous says:
07:55 AM, 11/05/2010
I think that most of you are correct. I was in my 05 Elantra this week and was t-boned directly on my passenger b-pillar. My 4yr old son and I walked away with a few stitches and minor cuts from glass.
I was hit by an 09 malibu. The amount of energy the impact created would blow your mind.
I had a small bag of sun chips in my insulated cooler for lunch that day and the bad did not blow but all the chips turned to dust. Have you ever seen those crustable pb&j sandwhiches? It blew the edge off it without blowing the bag.
I would hate to think what would would happen if he would have hit me anywhere else.
The test need to be more realistic and true-to-life.
dajake says:
04:36 PM, 10/05/2010
It is no surprise anymore for Hyundai Sonata and this would be once agian, a WAKE-UP call for Japanese competitors. I live in Connecticut and have been recently observing how many new Sonatas are around the roads. The result: not as many as Accord or Camry but i bet it would exceed definitely over Mazda6, Malibu, Fusion, and etc. Well done and keep up the good work!
church123 says:
04:01 PM, 10/05/2010
Gotta love the ever changing standards. Most older cars were passing the tests with excellent results. Sounds like good news, right? Nope, now they're calling it grade inflation, so let's make the test tougher.
The problem is, no one really can tell you if the test results correlate well with real world injury statistics. Part of it is confounding factors - drivers (both in terms of skill as well as their own physical condition/size), road conditions, the car or obstacle you hit, etc. But the other problem is that short of a very catastrophic collision - far in excess of the test criteria used for ratings - most people will walk away from a crash in a modern car _if_ they are wearing their seatbelts.
At this point, determining if a car is safe enough based on published safety ratings is like trying to decide if whether the kid who scored 98% on his entry exam is a better candidate than the kid who scored 99%. IOW, the differences are so minor, and the test sample so small, that you need to consider other variables to make an informed decision.
Personally, if I were looking for a safe vehicle for my kids or wife, I wouldn't really care about 4 star or 5 star crash rating differences. I'd be more concerned with how well my wife fit in the driver's seat relative to the steering wheel, the weight of the vehicle (heavier is better) and chassis/brake performance.
bmaple says:
03:09 PM, 10/05/2010
Made my midsize car buying decision easier. Camry or Accord for 28k or Sonata for 24k. Hyundai is making incredible strides. I sold them in 1991 and they were absolute junk. Never even would have thought of considering one till this new Sonata came out. Looking forward to see how the Accord does on the new crash tests.
Bud
exinobel102 says:
02:51 PM, 10/05/2010
The Versa does not surprise me, I was give one as a rental and that thing feels CHEAP. Not only that, but it handles like crap, I had to make an evasive maneuver on the highway to aviod an accident and almost wiped out after slamming the breaks. One of the scarier moments in my driving lifetime.
cz_75 says:
02:20 PM, 10/05/2010
Because somebody at NHTSA got a sweet deal on a BMW?
rustyshunt says:
12:16 PM, 10/05/2010
The NHTSA is the red-headed stepchild of safety ratings.
The IIHS Top Safety Pick rating system is THE industry standard
And was better than NHTSA BEFORE they upgraded their system first last year
This is supposed to make it easier for consumers, but it fails already!
The Audi A4 and 5-series had the same individual test scores
But the 5 got the top overall score, the Audi did not
Why?
Rusty