Crash Ratings from the Insurance Institute
To select a safe car or truck, buyers should review the Insurance Institute for Highway Institute reports. The Institute website makes its findings on cars, trucks and baby seats easily accessible.
In April 2008, the Institute released its side impact crash results on midsize cars. Overall, the study shows that small cars are more dangerous than large cars. Occupants of the smallest cars are about 51 percent more likely to be killed in a crash than those in midsize or large cars.
When it comes to frontal crash tests, "good" ratings on small cars only means they are safer than another small car with a lower rating. They are not necessarily safer than a large car with a lower rating. But side-impact crash tests are different. The impact comes from a ram that strikes the car. Because the stricking force is the same for each test it is possible to compare vehicles of different sizes. This leads to some surprising results in the side-impact tests--the small Honda Fit has a higher rating than a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria.
