smart not in IIHS 2010 top safety picks

[jwight]

Why was smart not included? http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4410.pdf

Two new criteria, ESP and roof crush strength, are smart strong points, and as the article points out smart is one of the few makes to receive an "acceptable" rating for its bumpers (no car has received a "good" rating yet.)

So, what's the problem?

[jefferios]

Maybe because the 2010 model has not been released?

[Carl242]

because that would contrast with what the IIHS says about the imminent danger of crashing head on into a red C330

[WhiteNBlack08]

Because the smart goes against everything the IIHS and auto makers have been poisoning our minds with for years. You know, we all need to be driving 2 ton land Yachts in order to be safe. If they admit that the smart is a top safety pick, what excuse are they going to come up with next for inventing new ridiculous tests? The IIHS needs the smart. It gives them an excuse to waste our insurance dollars developing useless tests that the smart will pass anyway.

[forestacademy]

When I watched the Segment on the Today show one of the last lines from the IIHS was "Size still matters" and for a lot of the line up that is true.

They have a Huge Bias

Oh, and No Toyota's or Lexus or Scions made the cut this year, and other cars that did last year didn't this year because you HAVE to have ESP to make the cut

But like Jeff said, No 2010 smarts to test yet

[jwight]

Not sure all of the cars receiving awards are out as 2010 models yet; still checking.

At any rate, the 2010 smart won't be any different when it comes to meeting the criteria for these awards (or maybe the IIHS doesn't know that?)

[rfernatt]

I knew I had seen something about head restraints last year knocking the fortwo and others out of Top Safety Pick and just found it. I would presume the same reasoning follows for the 2010 models since they are unchanged. Of course, I don't understand what the deficiency is?

2009 Top Safety Picks by IIHS

"Twenty-six models fall short of earning TOP SAFETY PICK because of inadequate head restraint designs. The Smart Fortwo, the only microcar in the US market, missed because of its head restraints. The same goes for Toyota’s hybrid Prius, which performed well in the Institute’s front and side crash tests but came up short for rear crash protection."

[jwight]

Good info - but what makes the smart's head restraints "inadequate" and what redesign is required? Apparently other makers have figured that out.

[rfernatt]

More info, but I still don't understand what the problem is:

Head restraints details page

[Alan Smithee]

The smart does not have separately adjustable head restraints.