Top Safe Automobiles for 2008 – and Some Surprises

If you’re in the market for a new automobile, or just wondering if the one you’re driving is safe, then you’ve probably heard about the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) safety ratings. The IIHS tests differ from the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests, which focuses on full-frontal crash testing. IIHS testing uses frontal offset crash testing – where the impact in an accident is concentrated on one side of a vehicle’s front end – which is similar to tests performed in Europe and Australia. According to the IIHS, frontal offset crash testing is meant to complement the full-frontal testing performed by the NHTSA, and results of testing by both organizations are good sources of safety information for consumers.

What’s new for 2008 safety ratings?

In November, the IIHS released its Top Safety Pick award to a total of 34 vehicles – and for the first time ever, pickup trucks were tested. New for 2008, the Top Pick winners must also come equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). ESC is viewed by many experts as the next great safety improvement, and according to IIHS is expected to reduce fatal roll-over accidents by 80% for SUVs and by 77% for cars, fatal single-vehicle crashes by 56% and fatal multi-vehicle crashes by 32%.

While many vehicles are somewhat comparable in front-impact crash tests, they vary greatly in side and rear impact testing. A good rating on front-impact crash testing is important, as most serious and fatal accidents are the result of front-impact crashes. However, while often less serious, side and rear-impact crashes are a significant source of injury to vehicle occupants. One often overlooked safety measure is the quality and design of the head restraints, which are critical to protecting an occupants head and neck during a rear-impact collision. Some vehicles – like the BMW 3 series, Acura RL and TL, and Volkswagen Eos, Jetta, Passat, and Rabbit – all missed top IIHS honors for 2008 because their seat and head restraints were found to be less than optimal.

The complete IIHS Top Safety Pick list for 2008 can be found on the IIHS website.

How do American cars rate?

The list of American automobiles on the IIHS Top Picks list is short – of the 34 winners, only 15% (5 vehicles) are American. They include the Ford Taurus (with optional electronic stability control), Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, Lincoln MKX, and Saturn VUE (built after December 2007). You might be surprised to know that this is an improvement on the 2007 Top Picks list, where there were no – that’s right, zero – American cars. If American auto makers are expecting to woo consumers away from foreign cars, they should probably work on the safety design of their vehicles.

Do crash test ratings even matter?

A recent Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) study found that crash test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were good predictors of crash worthiness for passenger cars, but not for pickup trucks or SUVs. The one to five star ratings from NHTSA and poor to good ratings from IIHS were found to correlate well to “real-world” crash data for passenger cars. Cars that rated one star or poor were indeed more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than cars with five stars or a good rating. However, when researchers examined the same data for trucks, the results were unsettling – a five star or good rated truck was found to be no safer than a one star or poorly rated truck. The researchers did caution that the sample size of data was relatively small, so NHTSA and IIHS test results for trucks should not be thrown out the window completely.

The minivan bumper bash

If you’re like many Virginia families, you have a minivan in the driveway. They’re great family vehicles, with plenty of room for your kids and all your (their!) gear. Many parents also think they are a very safe choice, as they tend to do well in crash tests and because of their size many people feel safer while driving them. So, you might be surprised to find out that the IIHS has released data showing that minivans have some of the worst bumpers of all passenger vehicles. Even a minor slow speed crash can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Of six 2008 models reviewed by the IIHS, not a single one was built adequately to withstand damage in a low speed crash – and by low speed, the IIHS is talking 3 and 6mph – a speed you can reach just backing up out of your garage or a mall parking spot. The IIHS cited the Nissan Quest as overall having the worst bumper design, as it sustained over $8,000 worth of damage during the low-speed tests. The Honda Odyssey fared the best, although it still wasn’t great. IIHS blamed automakers for poor minivan bumper design, and urged consumers to review crash results and consider the cost of repairs and replacement parts when shopping for a new vehicle.


If you’re in the Norfolk, Tidewater, Virginia Beach, or Richmond area and you or somebody you love has been involved in a serious automobile accident, please contact the law office of Richard Serpe, PC immediately. Mr. Serpe has over 20 years of experience as a trial lawyer, and will work with you to make sure you get the justice you deserve. Contact Mr. Serpe today for a no-cost, no-obligation review of your case, and find out why Virginians turn to his law office when they need a skilled and compassionate attorney on their side.