CRASH TEST RESULTS: ROLLOVER RATINGS
2004 POSTINGS BY NHTSA & SAFERCAR.GOV

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released crash test results for the last 2004 vehicles and some early 2005 vehicles. The agency also released additional rollover ratings for 2004 vehicles.

All results, including previously tested model year 2004 vehicles, are available at the agency’s web site: www.safercar.gov.

The 2004 Toyota Solara Coupe and the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox 4x4 are the only vehicles in the latest batch to earn the top rating of five stars for frontal and side impact crash tests. NHTSA’s consumer information program uses a one- to five-star ranking system that reflects a vehicle’s ability to protect the driver and passenger in a crash.

New model year 2004 ratings for rollover varied, with passenger cars generally scoring higher than SUVs. For passenger cars, the Mazda RX-8 received the top rating of five stars for rollover. For the light truck category, the highest scoring vehicles included the Dodge Durango 4x4, the Ford F-150, the Honda Pilot 4x4 and the Toyota Sienna, each receiving a 4-star rating for rollover. NHTSA also uses a five-star scale to rate a vehicle on its likelihood of rollover in a single vehicle crash.

New 2004 ratings for frontal impact are available for the Chrysler Crossfire two-door, Mazda RX-8 four-door and Toyota 4Runner 4x4 sport utility. For model year 2005, new frontal impact ratings are available for the Chevrolet Equinox 4x4 sport utility, Chrysler Town & Country minivan, Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, Ford Escape 4x4 sport utility, and Mazda Tribute 4x4 sport utility.

New model year 2004 ratings for side impact are available for the Acura TL four-door, Chevrolet Aveo four-door, Chrysler Crossfire two-door, Mitsubishi Galant four-door, and Toyota Solara Coupe two-door. For model year 2005, new side impact star ratings are available for the Chevrolet Equinox 4x4 sport utility, Chrysler 300C four-door, Chrysler Town & Country minivan, and the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

New model year 2004 ratings for rollover are available for the Acura TL four-door, Acura TSX four-door, Chevrolet Aveo four-door, Chevrolet Malibu LS four-door, Chevrolet Tahoe 4x2 sport utility, Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 sport utility, Dodge Durango 4x2 sport utility, Dodge Durango 4x4 sport utility, Ford Explorer 4x2 sport utility, Ford Explorer 4x4 sport utility, Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x4 sport utility, Ford F-150 4x2 extended cab pickup, Ford F-150 4x4 extended cab pickup, GMC Yukon 4x4 sport utility, GMC Yukon 4x2 sport utility, Honda Pilot 4x4 sport utility, Hyundai Accent four-door, Hyundai Elantra four-door, Hyundai Tiburon two-door, Hyundai XG350L four-door, KIA Amanti four-door, Mazda 3 four-door, Mazda RX-8 four-door, Mercury Mountaineer 4x2 sport utility, Mercury Mountaineer 4x4 sport utility, Nissan Maxima 3.5SE four-door, Pontiac Grand Prix GT four-door, Suzuki Forenza four-door, Toyota Prius five-door, Toyota Sienna van, Toyota Solara SLE two-door, Toyota Tacoma 4x2 extended cab pickup, and Volkswagen New Beetle convertible. [CLICK HERE FOR RATINGS]

A fact sheet containing explanatory information and tables showing crash tests results for recently released model year 2004 and 2005 vehicles can be obtained by calling the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236. Crash test information is available at NHTSA’s web site: www.safercar.gov. The site also can be used to compare scores for older vehicles. A table showing the rollover and crash test results is posted at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

(Source:National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)