Crash tests challenge small car safety

WASHINGTON – Economy cars made by Hyundai Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. received low marks in new side-impact crash tests, the insurance industry said, showing the downsides of driving small.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated several minicars for their ability to protect people in a severe crash. The 2007 Nissan Versa, which offers standard side air bags, received top scores in frontal, side and rear crash protection.

The 2007 Toyota Yaris with optional side air bags and the 2007 Honda Fit – which has standard side air bags – also got top marks in frontal and side-impact tests.

But four vehicles received the lowest rating of poor in side-impact protection: versions of the 2007 Yaris without side air bags, the 2006 Scion xB, and 2007 models of the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio, which share similar underpinnings.

The institute said they tested the economy vehicles for the first time because high gasoline prices have made small cars more popular. The vehicles, which typically weigh about 2,500 pounds or less, raise some safety concerns because of how they would interact with larger vehicles in a crash.

“People traveling in small, light cars are at a disadvantage, especially when they collide with bigger, heavier vehicles. The laws of physics dictate this,” said institute president Adrian Lund.