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Side Airbags Help Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volvo Sedans Top Crash Test Ratings

May 26, 2005

NHTSA Crash Tests • Hood Latch Failures Smash Dodge Truck Windshields • Small Pickups Mostly Dismal In Side Crash Tests • Study: Crash Tests Predict Fatalities In Cars, Not Trucks • NHTSA Gives Five Stars to 24 Passenger Vehicles • NHTSA Gives 2006 SUVs High Marks • SUVs Fare Better in New Government Crash Tests • NHTSA Nixes New Crash Tests • NHTSA Plans to Crash Test 77 Models Next Year • GM Trucks Fare Poorly in Crash Tests • Study Confirms 15-Passenger Van Rollover Risk • Suzuki Verona Rates Lowest in Government Crash Test • Side Airbags Help Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volvo Sedans Top Crash Test Ratings • NHTSA Tests Understate Rollover, Side Impact Risks, GAO Finds • Tests Find Vehicles Becoming More Stable • Tire Pressure Monitors Required on 2006 Models --- • IIHS Crash Tests • Auto Safety News

The Mitsubishi Galant, Toyota Avalon and the Volvo V70 - all with side air bags - earned the top rating of 5-stars for all seating positions in the latest round of frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA's consumer information program uses a one to five star rating system, with five being the highest. Star ratings reflect a vehicle's ability to protect the driver and passenger in a crash.

In this latest group of rollover testing, all newly tested passenger cars received 4-stars for rollover. NHTSA uses a five star scale, as well as a percent chance of rollover, to rate a vehicle on its likelihood of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.

The latest release concludes NHTSA's crash test and rollover ratings for passenger cars for the 2005 model year. All results, including previously tested model year 2005 vehicles, are available at the agency's web site: www.safercar.gov.

Shaded areas indicate new crash test or rollover results.

PC = Passenger Car (H=Heavy, 3500 lbs or greater; Me=Medium, 3000-3499 lbs; C=Compact, 2500-2999 lbs; L=Light, 2000-2499 lbs; Mi=Mini, 1500-1999 lbs)

w/SAB = with side air bags

ND = No data. The instruments used to record the test data malfunctioned.

¹ = if involved in a single-vehicle crash
² = Valid for Pontiac G6s produced on and after January 24, 2005

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