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BMW 5 Series Performs Poorly in New Impact Test

Kia Amanti places above higher-priced models

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 16, 2007

The Acura RL, Kia Amanti and Volvo S80 all earned the highest safety rating from IIHS.

The Cadillac STS and Mercedes E-Class earned the second-highest rating.

IIHS designed the side-impact tests to demonstrate what happens if a truck or sport utility vehicle hits the side of the sedan at 31 mph or the speed of a serious crash.

All of the luxury sedans were equipped with standard side air bags. The air bags in the BMW 5 Series protected the head, but separate air bags designed to protect the chest and stomach area performed poorly, according to the IIHS test results.

The Kia Amanti was one of the lowest priced sedans in the group, with a starting price of about $25,500 but the Kia offered more protection than more expensive entries. The BMW 5 Series starts at $43,500, while the Mercedes E-Class starts at $50,550.

The Volvo S80 also won the institute's top safety award for overall crash protection, since it scored the highest ratings in front, side and rear crash tests and has electronic stability control as standard equipment.

Side-impact crashes are the most common type of fatal crash after a frontal crash, killing around 9,000 people in 2005, according to IIHS.

"Growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side," Insurance Institute President Adrian Lund said in a news release.

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