Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota


The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and its challenging small-overlap crash test have passed judgment. In testing of nearly a dozen minicars, only one vehicle scored an acceptable rating on the ultra-tough test, which was instituted in August 2012.

The Chevrolet Spark was the only car out of 11 to net an "Acceptable" rating in the small-overlap test and the only one to be named a 2014 Top Safety Pick. The IIHS has four rating levels - Poor, Marginal, Acceptable and Good.

The Mazda2, Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris and 2014 Ford Fiesta all netted "Marginal" scores on the small-overlap test, while the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa, Toyota Prius C, Hyundai Accent, Fiat 500 and Honda Fit all netted "Poor" ratings. We've posted the full score result sheet to the right.

"Small, lightweight vehicles have an inherent safety disadvantage. That's why it's even more important to choose one with the best occupant protection," said Joe Nolan, IIHS' senior VP for vehicle research. "Unfortunately, as a group, minicars aren't performing as well as other vehicle categories in the small overlap crash."

Scroll down for the official press release from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Continue reading IIHS tests 11 minicars, finds them wanting in small-overlap crash test
IIHS tests 11 minicars, finds them wanting in small-overlap crash test originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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