A year after revamping its New Car Assessment Program crash tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a list of 74 2012-model cars it plans to run through its safety evaluations.
The models will be subjected to 35-mph frontal-impact crash test, a 38.5-mph t-bone side-impact crash test, and 20-mph side-impact crash test against a narrow pole, as well as a rollover-resistence evaluation. Vehicles are rated on a scale of one to five stars. NHTSA announced the list of models it will test Thursday.
Once the tests are carried out, NHTSA will have filled in most of the gaps in the line of cars it has already crash-tested. The agency will test for the first time popular models as the Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent subcompact hatchbacks, Hyundai Elantra small sedan, the Chevrolet Impala and Dodge Charger large sedans, the Acura TL and Cadillac CTS luxury sedans, the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang sporty coupes, and the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer SUVs.
Other planned tests include popular models that are new for the 2012 model year -- including the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry -- and models that have been updated after 2011 models struggled in previous crash testing.
NHTSA is also planning to test two low-volume electric cars -- the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Coda EV -- the Fiat 500 and Scion iQ minicars, and -- for the first time -- heavy-duty pickup trucks.
The agency has also recently released safety ratings of a few 2012 models. The updated Mazda3 compact sedan and Kia Sorento SUV each had slightly better side-impact protection than their 2011-model counterparts, and the Chrysler Town & Country minivan earned four out of five stars when it was crash-tested for the first time.
Even after NHTSA completes the planned 2012-model crash tests, a number of popular models will remain un-tested. Many of these are high-end products that are pricey for NHTSA to purchase. Several minivans and crossover SUVs popular as family vehicles come off as odd omissions, though, and tests of full-size vans would highlight their weak structure that other NHTSA programs have sought to document. NHTSA also typically tests only one version of a particular car, such as a Honda Accord sedan but not coupe.
The New Car Assessment Program tests are stricter than NHTSA's guidelines that apply to all cars sold in the U.S. The tests, like those from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, are designed to help consumers identify which models are the best. NHTSA made these tests more rigorous starting with the 2011 model year after most cars earned top scores under previous procedures.
A full list of vehicles NHTSA has already tested and the models it plans to review this year are located on this Scribd page. For just the list of upcoming tests, see NHTSA's press release. For full safety rating details of cars that have already been crash-tested, visit safercar.gov.
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