The 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser, even with standard front head and side airbags, still came in at the bottom of this class. The IIHS rated the PT Cruiser as "poor" in both side and rear crash evaluations. "The PT Cruiser doesn't offer the same crash protection level as other small cars," said Institute Senior Vice President Joe Nolan in a statement.
The 2009 Saturn Astra earned a "marginal" grade in the side crash evaluation and an "acceptable" grade in rear crash protection testing. The 2009 Hyundai Elantra earned a "marginal" grade in the side crash evaluation and an "acceptable" grade in rear crash protection testing.
The 2009 Chevrolet HHR earned an "acceptable" rating in side crash protection and a "marginal" rating in rear crash protection. The 2009 Ford Focus earned an "acceptable" rating in side crash protection and a "good" rating in rear crash protection. The 2009 Suzuki SX4 earned a "good" rating in side crash protection and a "marginal" rating in rear crash protection.
The 2009 Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe earned a "good" rating in side crash protection but it was not tested for rear crash protection.
The Institute noted that with the seven models tested, "a major change is that side airbags are standard in all." It noted that "among the small cars in this round of tests, only the Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Vibe have standard electronic stability control." This safety feature helps to reduce rollovers.
The Institute also tested the Mini Cooper and noted that it "earns good ratings for front and rear crashworthiness but not for side protection."
This particular round of testing is critical for consumers as they flock to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in the wake of fluctuating gas prices. The current average price for a gallon of unleaded gas stands at $1.66, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge. But gas prices spiked on July 17, when they hit a record average of $4.11 in the U.S.
Inside Line says: Consumers should be aware of the shortcomings of small cars — the major take-away from this latest report by the industry watchdog. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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