Wheels

Ford, VW, Nissan SUV Score Well In Crash Tests

ARLINGTON, Va (CBS4) ― Side air bags and standard electronic stability control helped four small sport utility vehicles earn top marks in the latest round of crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

After punishing front, side and rear impacts, the 2009 Ford Escape, 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and 2008 Nissan Rogue all earned high scores. The high marks also apply to the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute since they have the same underpinnings as the Ford Escape.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 2008 Jeep Wrangler, which did not have the optional side air bags installed, earned the lowest score of poor. On one of the simulated crashes, testers said one of the vehicles doors actually flew; a dangerous situation which could lead to a person being thrown from the vehicle during a real crash.

The Wrangler and Chevrolet Equinox, also a 2008 model, were the only 2 vehicles tested this time around without standard side airbags. The Jeep Patriot does have standard curtain airbags, but additional torso airbags designed to protect an occupant's chest and abdomen are optional.

Jeep vehicles with side air bags scored quite well. The 2008 Jeep Patriot with the side air bags and the optional front torso air bag received the top of score of good in side impact tests. A Patriot without the side air bags installed received the second lowest score of the group. Both versions of the Patriot received the good scores in the front-end test. 

The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent without optional side air bags received the top scores in the front-end test.  The Torrent didn't fare so well in the side impact test; it scored the second-lowest rating.

Finally, the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara received the highest score in the front-end test and the second-highest mark in the side test.


Click Here to see the scores of all the vehicles tested.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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