NHTSA safety test

[strider63]

Looking at the side impact

video

video

test I can't see the door opening at all.
Not sure what the NHTSA is talking about. Maybe the testing staff did not close the door fully
Or maybe they were surprise to be able to open the door after the impact making think that it came unlatched.

[brian r]

So what?

Let's see them repeat the test a few times and base the results on all of the crashes.

The Free Press article cited that the BMW 5er also posted three-star passenger results. I haven't heard that "the sky is falling" about this $45-90,000 car.

As for the door opening, it didn't here. The 2nd crash may have certainly been fatal (and with a 450), but no doors opened...

You Tube

You Tube

Drive carefully-like it's a motorcycle. You can get killed by a car walking your doggie.

[E-SMART]

Originally Posted by strider63

Looking at the side impact video test I can't see the door opening at all.
Not sure what the NHTSA is talking about. Maybe the testing staff did not close the door fully
Or maybe they were surprise to be able to open the door after the impact making think that it came unlatched.

'unlatched', not the same as actually opening (like a door slightly ajar I would guess) which may lead to a person being thrown out (although not if they're seat belted in). It didn't appear to be 'ajar' enough for the door to swing open after impact so I think that's why they kept the rating the same (just speculating)

[Krodista]

just so you understand how the crash test system works in case you arent exactly sure what each Star represents.

Frontal impact
crash rating is crashing a vehicle into a fixed barrier (a stationary car) at 35 MPH. Crashes represent a crash into a vehicle of equal weight and size. This means a 5 star crash test could still get clobbered when put up against a bigger vehicle. A 5 star smart "could" be a 1 star smart against a large SUV...make sense?

1 star = 46% or greater chance of serious injury
2 star = 36% to 45% chance of serious injury
3 star = 21% to 35% chance of serious injury
4 star = 11% to 20% chance of seirous injury
5 star = 10% or less chance of serious injury

A serious injury is one requiring immediate hospitalization and may be life threatening.

Side impact
a 3,015 pound barrier is thurst at 38.5MPH into a standing vehicle and is covered with material to simulate a vehicle as well as possible

1 star 26% or greater of serious injury
2 star 21%-25% chance of serious injury
3 star 11%-20% chance of serious injury
4 star 6%-10% chance of serious injury
5 star 5% or less chance of serious injury

they dont do rear impact or offset frontal impact at this time, but may in the future. I would think rear impact would be common because of people hittin one another at redlights and in traffic not paying attention.

Remember that these tests are all done at slow speeds which obviously the faster you go over the 35 or 38.5 it is going to greatly increase injury. The bottom line is that no matter what you drive if you get in an accident there is a chance for death. I think people forget how deadly driving is (just look at the people in rush hour reading their stocks, putting on makeup, eating, talking on cellphones, etc.). My advice is that no matter what you drive...be defensive and avoid injury at all cost (your life very well may depend on it). I dont mean to sound dramatic, but I dont want to hear about any "smart" people getting into serious accidents.

[stan1174]

funny how the press like to spin things...
based on the same NHTSA test

Detroit free press article title: "Smart ranks low on U.S. crash test"
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...SS01/804040415

Reuters article title: “Smart car aces U.S. crash test despite door opening”
http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...48250820080404