Five years ago small SUVs were given ball busted ratings on safety and crashworthiness.
Since then, automakers have managed to improve crashworthiness by installing an electronic stability control (ESC). Crashworthiness refers to how well the vehicle crumples like a can around the passenger, keeping them from harm; not how well the car can withstand the impact of accidents.
Top safety picks for 2008 SUVs are: the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander; 2008 Nissan Rogue; 2009 Ford Escape (also includes versions of the hybrid) and 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Chrysler’s Jeep Wrangler lamentably received the lowest score in the side test. Let’s just say you might paint the road if you get into a side crash in one of these.
ESC can reduce fatalities by 30 percent for passenger cars and 63 percent for SUVs, according to a study done by the NHTSA in 2004. By 2012, ESC will be required on all new vehicles, and side airbags are expected to be standard by 2010.
Our take? Kudos to automakers and their hard work in keeping us from becoming asphalt hamburgers.
via InjuryBoard
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