smarts have a roll over problem?

[Dan500]

I`m not sure if this has been posted already but on Yahoo Autos, Cars.com has a list of the 10 worst cars of the 2000`s. Guess who made #1? They say that it has a SUV type roll over problem...good thing they told me or I would have never known! Just when you thought you heard it all.

[NCC1701]

I gather from what I've read that smarts are kinda prone to rolling when hit by a heavier vehicle. The smart is hard like a nut. It activates the other vehicle's crumple zones, but when physics dictate that's not enough to neutralize things, the little booger bounces off and can roll. Wear your seat belts. It is light, and hard. In a serious collision, rolling is likely better than crushing.

There is not evidence I've seen that the smart is prone to rolling in a non-collision situation.

[John_H]

It's sad, really. A bad personal opinion shows up in print at a larger online site. Not pleasant considering the contradictions and factual absence.

Shoot to the Heart by Cars.Com

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by Dan500

I`m not sure if this has been posted already but on Yahoo Autos, Cars.com has a list of the 10 worst cars of the 2000`s. Guess who made #1? They say that it has a SUV type roll over problem...good thing they told me or I would have never known! Just when you thought you heard it all.

Tell everyone so they will stop buying suv's

[jwight]

smart gets 3 stars from the NHTSA for rollover tendency: Safercar.gov

For comparison, the 09 Yaris liftback is rated 4 stars.

[forestacademy]

But what one is going to crush in on you when it does roll over

Yaris roof Strength-to-weight ratio 3.78 acceptable but best in its class
Roof strength details: Microcars

Smart roof Strength-to-weight ratio 5.41 Quite a bit above a Good rating
Roof strength details: Microcars

[Old smart]

Several test procedures and actual incidents have the smart knocked off its feet. I wonder if that is not a good thing - that by the impact imparting some of the smart’s inertia into lifting and/or spinning (and the occupants with it), the deceleration is not as instantaneous.

We are recently buoyed by the fact that if we do go upside down, the roof structure will fare better than any other vehicle in its near but larger class (the smart was tested against “minis,” not “micros”).

[jwight]

Personally, I'd prefer not to have a car roll over in the first place.

[Macaw]

I had a Suzuki Samurai the "original" alleged roll over king. I drove the poo out of it and never felt like I was going to roll over. And the smart is way safer than that!

[wildman]

I questioned the stability of my Samurai,, but that was after I put on over 9" lift and 33x12.5 on 10" rims. I have never questioned my smart, I feel as stable in it as any other car I currently own.