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IIHS: Bigger is Better in Car Safety

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

December 19, 2006

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is urging consumers to stick with bigger, heavier vehicles, which tend to be safer for motorists.

IIHS offered the recommendation as it released crash-test ratings for subcompact vehicles. None of the subcompacts tested received an IIHS endorsement.

Driver death rates in subcompacts are higher than in any other vehicle category, according to Adrian Lund, president of IIHS.

The institute evaluated nine cars weighing 2,500 pounds or less, a size that's smaller than the compact Honda Civic. Good was the highest rating, followed by acceptable, marginal and poor.

The Nissan Versa received the highest rating in front, side and rear crash tests.

The Toyota Yaris was next-best, earning good in front and side crash tests but marginal in the rear test.

Among the worst performers were the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, earning acceptable in the front test, but poor in the side and rear tests.

Side air bags and head-protection systems helped in most of the tests..

Subcompacts are popular because of good gas mileage. Nevertheless, bigger is better when it comes to safety according to Lund.

"If you really want to save fuel, buy a larger car that's less powerful than a smaller lightweight vehicle that also sacrifices your safety," he said.

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