The 2012 Volkswagen Passat midsize family sedan has become the 20th 2012-model vehicle and the first Volkswagen to earn a top overall rating of five stars in tough new crash testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The newly redesigned Passat also earned top scores in each individual evaluation but a rollover resistance computation, according to the NHTSA site.
Scores from the 2012 Acura TL entry-luxury sedan, however, are more disappointing -- and more unusual. It's one of just four 2012s to earn an overall rating below four out of five stars, joining the subcompact Fiat 500 and two models that will soon be discontinued or replaced. The TL was hurt most by a score of two out of five stars for front-passenger protection in the NHTSA frontal crash test.
(NHTSA originally posted the TL's scores with a rating of four out of five stars; it was later dropped to three stars on its website.)
Most cars tested since NHTSA made its crash tests more difficult for the 2011 model year have earned four out of five stars overall. Acura competitors from Audi, Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz have also fallen short of the top five-star score; the BMW 5-Series and Cadillac CTS are the only premium sedans to earn five stars so far. But again, the TL's three-star score is unusual for a current model vehicle.
NHTSA also recently posted scores for the 2012 Mazda6 midsize family sedan, which also earned a four-star overall rating but lower frontal-impact scores.
The TL and Passat are rated Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts its own set of crash tests that complement NHTSA's. In IIHS testing, the Mazda6 earned lower scores for roof strength and head restraint design.
The crash test ratings published as part of NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program reflect stricter tests than those all cars sold in the United States are required to pass. They are designed for consumer information and the star ratings appear on a new car's window sticker.
See a full listing of cars' NHTSA scores on this ScribD page, or visit safercar.gov for more information.
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