Owner's Review: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Motor Authority - blog Tag: NHTSA

  • Audi Q5 takes top marks in both IIHS and NHTSA safety tests

    Audi Q5 takes top marks in both IIHS and NHTSA safety tests June 9th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, June 9th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Audi Q5 takes top marks in both IIHS and NHTSA safety tests Safety is no joke, especially to families on the go, and the arms race to get top ratings from the key safety evaluators - the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - is a never-ending battle to include the biggest standard spec-sheet when it comes to safety equipment.

    And that's why luxury vehicles are so often found at or near the top of the list. It's no different with the 2009 Audi Q5, which is equipped with most of the safety devices available on the market today, enabling it to rank tops in both IIHS and NHTSA testing.

    “Audi engineers place unwavering... Safety is no joke, especially to families on the go, and the arms race to get top ratings from the key safety evaluators - the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - is a never-ending battle to include the biggest standard spec-sheet when it comes to safety equipment. And that's why luxury vehicles are so often found at or near the top of the list. It's no different with the 2009 Audi Q5, which is equipped with most of the safety devices available on the market today, enabling it to rank tops in both IIHS and NHTSA testing. “Audi engineers place unwavering emphasis on the protection of motorists and their passengers,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “These outstanding ratings for the Audi Q5 confirm our intent to meet the most rigorous safety standards found anywhere in the world.” Some might argue that the inclusion of the pole test standard in some NCAP testing schemes makes that standard the most rigorous in the world, but the IIHS is no slouch, requiring top marks in side, frontal offset and rear impact seat testing plus standard stability control to earn a Top Safety Pick, as the Q5 has done. The NHTSA gave the 2009 Audi Q5 five stars for both driver and passenger protection in front and side impact tests. Every Audi sold in the U.S. has standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS), an electronic stability program, daytime running lights (DRL) and a standard tire pressure monitoring system. The Audi Q5 adds to these features with quattro permanent all-wheel standard on all models, providing high levels of active safety and traction in a wide variety of conditions. All of these features are designed to help reduce the chances of a collision, and they all contribute to the Q5's top safety rank.Audi Q5 Read More

  • Ford Mustang scores 5-star NHTSA safety rating

    Ford Mustang scores 5-star NHTSA safety rating May 18th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, May 18th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 0 Comments

    Ford Mustang scores 5-star NHTSA safety rating The 2010 Ford Mustang (Coupe only) has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 5-star rating in the agency's latest round of testing, cementing the Blue Oval's position as industry leader when it comes to safety. The latest results include top scores for both the driver and passenger in front and side crash tests, as well as for rollover performance.

    The Mustang’s considerable body stiffness contributes to the car’s driving performance but this also has a parallel benefit in accident protection. While the new Coupe structure is approximately 31% stiffer than the previous Mustang platform, the... The 2010 Ford Mustang (Coupe only) has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 5-star rating in the agency's latest round of testing, cementing the Blue Oval's position as industry leader when it comes to safety. The latest results include top scores for both the driver and passenger in front and side crash tests, as well as for rollover performance. The Mustang’s considerable body stiffness contributes to the car’s driving performance but this also has a parallel benefit in accident protection. While the new Coupe structure is approximately 31% stiffer than the previous Mustang platform, the convertible’s is more than twice as stiff – creating a structure that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion during an impact. The key is the use of high strength steel in the body structure and ultra high strength steel in the door intrusion beams for additional side impact protection. Other important features include special octagonal shape front rails to help spread crash forces evenly, Ford’s SYNC 911 Assist, standard AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, dual-stage airbags, and safety belt pretensioners. Incidentally, when it comes to safety, Ford (and its Lincoln and Mercury subsidiaries) is one of the leaders in the industry. Last year Ford topped the list of carmakers with the highest number of Top Safety Pick awards from rival safety board, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the carmaker has announced that it also has more NHSTA rated 5-star vehicles than any other brand.2010 Ford Mustang Read More

  • Acura first carmaker ever to get top IIHS and NHTSA ratings for entire lineup

    Acura first carmaker ever to get top IIHS and NHTSA ratings for entire lineup April 1st, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, April 1st, 2009 Kenneth Hall 2 Comments

    Acura first carmaker ever to get top IIHS and NHTSA ratings for entire lineup It's not every day that an automotive first is achieved - the industry is over a century old, after all. So that makes Acura's first-ever sweep of top marks in IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings impressive as a first as well as for the safety of its vehicles.

    The final vehicle to get the top scores was the new 2009 Acura TL (pictured above). With that, all of Acura's vehicles are now certified as 5-star (NHTSA NCAP) or 'Good' (IIHS) - the top marks possible in the U.S.

    But there's bound to be at least one asterisk next to the entry in the record books: Acura isn't really a full-line carmaker. Sure, it offers a crossover, an SUV, and a trio of ... It's not every day that an automotive first is achieved - the industry is over a century old, after all. So that makes Acura's first-ever sweep of top marks in IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings impressive as a first as well as for the safety of its vehicles. The final vehicle to get the top scores was the new 2009 Acura TL (pictured above). With that, all of Acura's vehicles are now certified as 5-star (NHTSA NCAP) or 'Good' (IIHS) - the top marks possible in the U.S. But there's bound to be at least one asterisk next to the entry in the record books: Acura isn't really a full-line carmaker. Sure, it offers a crossover, an SUV, and a trio of sedans, but compared to BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus Acura's five models are but a drop in the bucket. Still, considering recently tightened safety regulations and electronic stability control requirements, the win across its lineup does mean Acura's cars are also some of the more technologically advanced when it comes to safety features. Things like Acura's ACE body structure, designed to help absorb the energy of a frontal crash, and standard features like full airbags, ABS, stability and traction control are supplemented by more advanced tech like the Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) that interacts with the front side airbags to provide intelligent airbag deployment. Together, the whole package yields the safest lineup in the industry - no matter the size.2009 Acura TL2009 Acura TL IIHS side impact test Read More

  • Will it bend? IIHS reveals first round of tests under new roof rating system

    Will it bend? IIHS reveals first round of tests under new roof rating system March 24th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, March 24th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 3 Comments

    Will it bend? IIHS reveals first round of tests under new roof rating system Crash testing brand-new vehicles may rub the Puritan ethic the wrong way, but it's the only sure way to find out just what a car is capable of in terms of protecting its occupants. Today a new round of testing by the IIHS reveals how the first batch of small SUVs holds up under new roof-strength standards.

    Previous tests adhered to the NHTSA's roof-strength standard of 2.5 times the vehicle's weight. Now the IIHS has boosted its standard for selection as a Top Safety Pick to a full four times the vehicle's weight with a maximum crush of 5 inches.

    The new results show only 4 of the 12 small SUVs tested in this round yielded top ratings: the... Crash testing brand-new vehicles may rub the Puritan ethic the wrong way, but it's the only sure way to find out just what a car is capable of in terms of protecting its occupants. Today a new round of testing by the IIHS reveals how the first batch of small SUVs holds up under new roof-strength standards. Previous tests adhered to the NHTSA's roof-strength standard of 2.5 times the vehicle's weight. Now the IIHS has boosted its standard for selection as a Top Safety Pick to a full four times the vehicle's weight with a maximum crush of 5 inches. The new results show only 4 of the 12 small SUVs tested in this round yielded top ratings: the Subaru Forester, Honda Element, Jeep Patriot and Volkswagen Tiguan. Second-tier SUVs included the Chevrolet Equinox, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Suzuki Grand Vitara. Stepping down a notch further, the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape rated 'marginal' on the IIHS' four-level scale, while the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson rated 'poor' - perhaps explaining where the Korean carmakers is saving some of its money. The 'Good', 'Acceptable', 'Marginal' and 'Poor' ratings correspond to the roof supporting at least 4, greater than 3.25, greater than 2.5, and less than 2.5 times the vehicle's weight respectively. It's worth mentioning, however, that the IIHS' new standard isn't official. In fact, the NHTSA has been famously slow in adopting new roof crush standards. Part of the reason is the projected expense to the industry - right now is not the time to throw another burden on the struggling carmakers - but part of the reason is also that even substantial improvements in roof strength will have little actual effect on the number of rollover-related deaths each year. A consumer advocate safety group called Public Citizen is even calling for a complete revamp of the way the tests are done - rather than a static test like that done by the NHTSA and IIHS, they would have a 'dynamic' test - one more closely simulating an actual rollover. The IIHS on the other hand thinks that its decision to jump up from the 2.5 times vehicle weight ratio required by the NHTSA to the new 4 times vehicle weigh factor would reduce casualties by 50%. That's a strong claim, and the new test is one that the IIHS expects to significantly reduce the numper of Top Safety Picks it issues each year. Currently 73 cars bear that honor. Read More

  • First six cars tested under new Euro NCAP system, Toyota iQ rates 5 stars

    First six cars tested under new Euro NCAP system, Toyota iQ rates 5 stars February 20th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, February 20th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    First six cars tested under new Euro NCAP system, Toyota iQ rates 5 stars Starting this year, all new cars assessed under the Euro NCAP scheme will have to be fitted with some form of electronic stability control (ESC) in order to gain a rating of five stars. This puts the Euro NCAP scheme at the forefront of crash testing, though some other regions are also making advances in the science of safety. Now the first six cars tested under the new standards have been revealed, along with their safety ratings.

    The top scorers under the new system are the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Avensis and Toyota iQ, each earning a five-star score. Four-star cars include the Citroen C3 Picasso and the Subaru Impreza. The... Starting this year, all new cars assessed under the Euro NCAP scheme will have to be fitted with some form of electronic stability control (ESC) in order to gain a rating of five stars. This puts the Euro NCAP scheme at the forefront of crash testing, though some other regions are also making advances in the science of safety. Now the first six cars tested under the new standards have been revealed, along with their safety ratings. The top scorers under the new system are the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Avensis and Toyota iQ, each earning a five-star score. Four-star cars include the Citroen C3 Picasso and the Subaru Impreza. The difference between the two rally-bred cars is sure to spark an endless series of arm-waving fan-boy disputes, though the rest of the results are about as expected. The Avensis and iQ, though small, earned high marks, proving that the new system favors features and equipment as much as sheer structural size, and also showing that it doesn't take a lot of metal to make a safe car. The new overall Euro NCAP rating is composed from scores achieved in four areas of assessment Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian Protection and a new area: Safety Assist. Safety Assist will allow Euro NCAP to consider driver assistance systems and active safety technologies, which play an increasingly important role in accident avoidance and injury mitigation. U.S. testing, on the other hand, is often deemed somewhat behind the times. Both Euro NCAP and Australia's ANCAP testing procedures have done away with the full-width frontal impact test in favor of the offset frontal impact. Both have also added a 'pole test', which impacts the car from the side with a steel pole. In Australia, the bonus points scored by cars that fare will in this test are necessary to score five stars. A failure results in a maximum possible of four stars. The NHTSA requires neither a unique test nor ESC, relying only on the crash data itself to justify its star ratings. For a five-star NHTSA rating, the occupants must be exposed to a 10% or less chance of serious bodily injury. Unlike the NHTSA, the IIHS performs offset impact testing, and the NHTSA recommends drivers compare both ratings to get a feel for the overall safety picture of their vehicle. Beside adding the ESC requirement and testing seats for protection against whiplash and rear-impact collisions, the new Euro NCAP scheme does not otherwise modify the testing or scoring procedure - vehicles will still need to to well in all areas of the assessment to achieve a top result. That means that budget manufacturers - especially in the small-car market where safety is often a primary concern - will have to offer ESC in addition to a host of standard safety features, potentially raising prices for some models. “There is no doubt that this new overall rating will provide clear challenges to industry, but at the same time it will create opportunities for manufacturers to be rewarded for their dedication to safety. Euro NCAP needs to continually evolve with innovation and ensure that consumers can be confident that the rating remains updated and a true reflection of the safety performance of their vehicles,” said Dr. Michiel Van Ratingen, Secretary-General of Euro NCAP.European 2009 Mazda62010 Toyota iQ minicar Read More

  • Ferrari recalls 1,900 F430 Spiders at risk of going up in flames

    Ferrari recalls 1,900 F430 Spiders at risk of going up in flames February 17th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, February 17th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 0 Comments

    Ferrari recalls 1,900 F430 Spiders at risk of going up in flames We’ve seen a number of cases of Ferrari supercars going up in flames over the past couple of years but usually these are one off occurrences and the reasons behind the fiery end usually goes by unreported. In the latest twist of the ongoing Ferrari fire saga, the Italian supercar manufacturer has decided to issue a recall on its F430 Spider model.

    According to Ferrari, the fire hazard involves the hydraulic hoses for the convertible roof. These hoses are located inside of the engine compartment and are susceptible to hair-line cracks from excessive engine heat. A fire can result from the hydraulic fluid leaking on the engine and... We’ve seen a number of cases of Ferrari supercars going up in flames over the past couple of years but usually these are one off occurrences and the reasons behind the fiery end usually goes by unreported. In the latest twist of the ongoing Ferrari fire saga, the Italian supercar manufacturer has decided to issue a recall on its F430 Spider model. According to Ferrari, the fire hazard involves the hydraulic hoses for the convertible roof. These hoses are located inside of the engine compartment and are susceptible to hair-line cracks from excessive engine heat. A fire can result from the hydraulic fluid leaking on the engine and combusting. The recall is targeting 2005 to 2007 model year F430 Spiders, affecting more than 1,950 cars. The recall is being conducted together with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and will require owners to take their cars to dealers to receive a modification for the engine bay. The service will be performance free of charge and currently available for F430 Spider owners. No other models have been announced as part of the recall, which means the latest Scuderia Spider 16M model is likely to be unaffected. Read More

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