Some
vehicles can survive car crashes and protect the occupants much
better than others. To find out which motor vehicles perform best and
which the worst, nonprofit group Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
performed crash tests. IIHS, which is “dedicated to reducing the
frequency and consequences of crashes on U.S. roads,” rated the cars in
four separate categories. 24/7 Wall St. examined the ratings and
identified the seven current-generation models that received a
“marginal” or “poor” rating in two of the four categories.
The four rating categories of the IIHS tests are: (1) a frontal
offset crash test in which the vehicle travels at 40 miles per hour and
hits a barrier head-on; (2) a side-impact crash test in which a 3,300
lb. “SUV-like” object strikes the driver side at 31 mph; (3) rollover
ratings in which a metal plate hits the corner of a vehicle to determine
how much force it can take before rolling over; and (4) a rear-impact
protection rating, which focuses on the ability of seats and seat belts
to protect against whiplash.
The cars with the worst scores most commonly received poor grades in
the rollover and rear impact tests. In both of these tests, six of the
seven models received a score of “marginal,” the second-worst grade. The
next most common issue was side impact, in which one model received a
“marginal” score and two received a “poor” score, the worst grade given
in these tests.
The poor ratings of these models does not appear to have affected
their sales. In fact, sales of all models are up from last year. In all
but one case, according to data provided by Edmunds.com,
sales
grew at least 19% last year. And while most of these models’ sales are
still below 2007 levels, sales the Jeep Wrangler not only increased the
most but also jumped 50% since then.
In addition to IIHS ratings, 24/7 Wall St. also looked at several
other measures of overall safety and quality for these vehicles.
Included in this analysis are
Consumer Reports’ ratings, crash
safety ratings performed by the National Highway Transportation and
Safety Administration, and JD Power’s overall Initial Quality report.
Based on our analysis, it appears that these models persistently have
quality issues as several received similarly poor reviews from
government test ratings. In the JD Power’s study, five of the seven
models scored a three or less out of five, and none scored higher than a
four.
Several of the models listed in this study had a two-door and
four-door version, which were tested separately and each received poor
IIHS scores. 24/7 Wall St. referred to the model only once, but
mentioned the scores of each version. In addition, one of the vehicles,
the Chevrolet Colorado, is essentially identical to another vehicle, the
GMC Canyon. General Motors, which makes both vehicles, uses the same
frame for both. In this case, 24/7 Wall St. listed only the Canyon,
which is the more popular vehicle.
These are the most dangerous cars in America.
1. Ram 1500 > Make: Dodge
> Bad ratings: side-marginal; rollover-marginal
> 2011 sales: 156,983
> Price: $22,120
> JD Power Initial Quality: 2/5
Though Dodge has been offering the half-ton Ram 1500 since 1981, its
safety track record has long been unimpressive. From 1998 through 2001,
the truck received failing marks from IIHS in frontal offset tests, and
was rated “poor” in protecting heads and left legs, as well as in
restraining the crash test dummy. Though frontal offset ratings have
since received “good” ratings from the IIHS, the vehicle’s side-impact
and rollover ratings remain substandard. Curiously, it was the opposite
in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests. The agency
found fault with the Ram’s performance on frontal impact tests but not
with side impact tests. Despite safety concerns, the model has been
selling well, and from 2007 to 2011 Dodge sold more than 100,000 trucks
each year.
2. Colorado Crew Cab > Make: Chevrolet
> Bad ratings: side-poor; rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 31,026
> Price: $17,475
> JD Power Initial Quality: 3/5
The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon crew cab are fundamentally the
same light truck made by General Motors (NYSE: GM) with differing
cosmetic features. The small pickup performed quite poorly in the
IIHS tests, earning a “poor” side-impact grade and “marginal” grades for
rollover and rear safety. Sales of the Colorado have been especially
poor in recent years; GM sold 75,716 such cars in 2007 and only 31,026
in 2011. Making matters worse, a November, 2011, recall of 5,220
Colorados and Canyons due to seat belt safety concerns did not help
either the brand’s sales or its safety record.
3. CX-7 > Make: Mazda
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 35,641
> Price: $22,190
> JD Power Initial Quality: 4/5
Although it will be replaced by the newer CX-5 model next year, the
CX-7’s safety record certainly will not be remembered fondly. Despite
“good” scores in front and side impact ratings, low grades in rollover
and rear-impact measures go against perceptions that the CX-7 is a safe
car to drive. Sales rose from about 20,000 in 2009 to 35,641 in 2011.
Still, this is down from 2007 when 42,199 CX-7 cars were sold.
4. CX-9 > Make: Mazda > Bad ratings: rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 34,421
> Price: $29,725
> JD Power Initial Quality: 4/5
Assembled in Hiroshima, Japan, the Mazda CX-9 received “marginal”
scores in both rollover and rear safety ratings. The CX-9 also had the
lowest strength-to-weight ratio of all midsize SUVs tested by the IIHS.
This ratio measures how much force a car’s roof can handle before it
crushes five inches, and then it is divided by the weight of the car.
Despite these poor ratings, the number of CX-9s sold increased from
25,484 in 2007 to 34,421 in 2011.
5. Pathfinder > Make: Nissan
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 25,935
> Price: $29,290
> JD Power Initial Quality: 3/5
The Nissan Pathfinder earned “marginal” ratings in rollover and
rear-impact testing from the IIHS. The Pathfinder’s performance in
government rollover tests is likewise troubling, as it registered an
estimated 20% to 30% risk of rolling over during testing. At a price of
$29,290, the cost of a Pathfinder is similar to that of the Mazda CX-9
or the 4-door Jeep Wrangler. According to Edmunds sales figures, both
these models have outsold the Pathfinder in the past three years.
6. Wrangler > Make: Jeep
> Bad ratings: side-marginal (2-door), side-poor (4-door); rear-marginal (both)
> 2011 sales: 122,460 (all Wranglers), 46,803 (2-door), 75,657 (4-door)
> Price: $22,970 (2-door), $30,745 (4-door)
> JD Power Initial Quality: 3/5
With “marginal” ratings in side and rear-impact protection, the
two-door Wrangler joins other SUVs, such as the CX-7, CX-9 and
Pathfinder, as a poor performer in IIHS tests. One of the few car models
that actually underperforms the two-door Jeep Wrangler is the larger
four-door version. This version of the Wrangler also received a
“marginal” rear-impact rating, yet was also given a “poor” side-impact
rating. During a recent IIHS side-impact test, a dummy was struck by the
steel bars supporting the four-door Wrangler’s convertible roof. Both
of the models’ overall poor performance stems in part from the fact they
were unable to protect the driver’s or back-seat passengers’ heads and
other bodily parts in simulated accidents. Despite earning the lowest
score of any mid-size SUV from
Consumer Reports, the Wrangler still sells especially well with more than 120,000 sold in the U.S. in 2011.
7. SX4 > Make: Suzuki
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal, rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 12,520
> Price: $13,849
> JD Power Initial Quality: 2/5
The least-expensive car on this list, the Suzuki SX4 performed poorly
in rollover and rear-test ratings. Among the more than 30 small cars
tested by the IIHS, the SX4 was the only small car to receive two scores
of “marginal” or “poor” out of four ratings. Similarly, the SX4 also
received a “fair” rating, the second-lowest possible, in government
side-crash testing. The model’s U.S. sales also have languished, falling
from 30,166 in 2008 to 12,520 last year.
Michael B. Sauter
Source (via
www.autoblog.com);
http://247wallst.com/2012/05/29/the-most-dangerous-cars-in-america/2/
