4 Crossovers Score Well

FOUR compact crossover utilities received the highest ratings in recent crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The four vehicles that received “good” ratings in all three tests — for front, side and rear impacts — were the 2009 Ford Escape, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2008 Nissan Rogue and 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The Escape’s rating applies to several structurally identical models: the Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute and hybrid versions of all three vehicles.

The institute, which is financed by the insurance industry, gives ratings of good, acceptable, marginal and poor.

The Escape, Outlander, Rogue and Tiguan received the institute’s Top Safety Pick designation. To be a top pick, a vehicle must also have electronic stability control, which helps drivers to avoid skids. These vehicles also have standard side air bags.

Five years ago, most small S.U.V.’s did not have either stability control or standard side air bags; most were rated marginal or poor for side impacts.

Three previously tested vehicles are also Top Safety Picks: the 2008 Honda CR-V and Element and 2009 Subaru Forester.

Also tested but scoring lower were the Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Patriot (with and without optional side air bags), Chevrolet Equinox/Pontiac Torrent and two-door Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler, which was tested without its optional side air bags, did worst in the side-impact test, for which it got a “poor” rating. The Wrangler scored lower than it did before it was redesigned for the 2007 model year. And its driver’s door opened during the test.

The detailed ratings are at

iihs.org. CHERYL JENSEN

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THE BLOG; '59 vs. '09: A Safety Lesson

IT was no way to treat a senior citizen: sending a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air hurtling into a collision with a 2009 Malibu, with both cars traveling 40 miles an hour. As the video produced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows, the outcome wasn't pretty.

The windshield dislodges, the driver's door opens and the front half of the Bel Air goes through something between crumbling and what looks like imploding as the dummy in the driver's seat flies around like Peter Pan.

''The Bel Air collapsed,'' said David Zuby, senior vice president for the institute's vehicle research center. ''The area in which the driver was sitting collapsed completely around him.''

The test was staged in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the institute, a group financed by the insurance industry. The idea was to show how much automotive safety has progressed in five decades.

While some people still think that the big steel bodies and sturdy frames of old cars meant they were stronger vehicles with good crash protection, the institute's crash test shows that just wasn't the case, Mr. Zuby said. Sophisticated engineering and high-strength steel give modern vehicles a huge advantage.

Here's how the institute described what happened to the Bel Air:

''This car had no seat belts or air bags. Dummy movement wasn't well controlled, and there was far too much upward and rearward movement of the steering wheel. The dummy's head struck the steering wheel rim and hub, and then the roof and unpadded metal instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.

''During rebound, the dummy's head remained in contact with the roof and slid rearward and somewhat inward. The windshield was completely dislodged from the car and the driver door opened during the crash, both presenting a risk of ejection. In addition, the front bench seat was torn away from the floor on the driver side.''

Mr. Zuby said he did not know of any vehicle that performed worse in tests than the Bel Air.

The institute rates vehicles as Good, Acceptable, Marginal or Poor. The group looks at how well the structure of the vehicle held up and the likelihood of injuries to the head, chest and legs. The Bel Air got a Poor rating in every category.

The 2009 Malibu got Good in every category except for the left leg and foot, which was rated Marginal.

And what does this mean to owners of 1959 Bel Airs? Mr. Zuby said driving in a parade was probably safe because the speeds were slow and it was a controlled environment.

''I wouldn't recommend that anybody use an antique car like this for their daily driving around,'' he said.

PHOTO: MISMATCHED: A 2009 Chevy Malibu slicing through a 1959 Bel Air during a crash test. (PHOTOGRAPH BY INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY)

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