Apr 9, 2009

How Stout Is Your Roof?

If your vehicle rolls over -- an unlikely but possible circumstance -- we are pretty certain you’d like a sturdy roof over your head. In response to that desire, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has launched a new roof-strength rating system to help consumers pick vehicles that will help protect them in rollover crashes. In the initial portion of the new program, 12 small SUVs were the first to be put to the test, and of that dozen, only four earned the top rating of “good.” The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest-rated roof, and the Kia Sportage has the weakest among the 2008-09 models evaluated.

This new rating system is based on Institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs. Vehicles rated “good” must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require.

The Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element and Jeep Patriot were the four tested vehicles that earned “good” ratings. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander were rated “acceptable.” Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape were deemed “marginal,” and the Kia Sportage’s roof was rated “poor.”

“We anticipate that our roof strength test will drive improved rollover crash protection the same way our frontal offset and side impact consumer test programs have led to better protection in these kinds of crashes,” said IIHS President Adrian Lund.
Next Driving Today News>>