Buying a Safer Car Safety Features * Crash Tests * Theft Ratings Buying a Safer Car can help consumers confidently identify the safest vehicles. Information in this publication is provided to help determine which automobiles offer the most protection from injury and death during a frontal or side collision, and to identify those vehicles most frequently stolen. This brochure does not endorse any particular vehicle. Information was obtained from government agencies and vehicle manufacturers. The guide is current as of January 1996. Using the Guide Charts contain safety feature information, results from frontal crash tests and theft ratings. Safety feature information covers anti-lock brakes and adjustable shoulder belt anchorages and, for passenger cars only, whether they have improved side-impact protection. Features are shown as: S - standard equipment of vehicles in that model line; N - not available on any vehicle in that model line; or A - available on some vehicles in that model line. Crash testing is expensive, so all vehicles cannot be tested every year. Cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans that are new, popular, redesigned or have improved safety equipment are selected for testing and bought from dealers. Crash-test results summarized in the charts are applicable to 1996 model year vehicles. When a particular body style has been or will be crash tested, that body style is shown in parentheses after the car listing; e.g. Toyota Camry (2-door). Additional results for current models will be released at intervals throughout the year. These vehicles are identified in the Crash Tests column as to be tested. For the latest crash-test data, or data on used cars tested since 1979, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline: (800) 424-9393. The hotline's fax-on- demand system can fax this information to consumers when they enter their fax number. Safety Sells Each year, nearly 40,000 Americans die in motor vehicle crashes. One in 8.5 drivers is involved in an automobile collision and one of nine hospital beds is occupied by a victim of an auto-related accident. These auto-related deaths and injuries place a heavy load on society. In addition to causing grief and suffering, vehicle crashes add billions of dollars to the cost of health care and vehicle insurance. Despite these grim statistics, traffic deaths per million miles driven have been declining steadily. Safer cars get partial credit for this encouraging trend. Each new model must meet safety standards set by NHTSA. As the car-buying public becomes increasingly interested in safety, manufacturers have responded with safety features beyond NHTSA's minimum requirements. Safety First No automobile is 100 percent safe or collision-proof. An experienced and sober driver wearing a safety belt is the most important safety feature in any car. Never drive when you are: o Unbelted. o Influenced by drugs or alcohol. o Ill or emotionally upset. o Fatigued - especially around your normal bedtime. Keep your car in safe operating condition. Carefully read the owner's manual that comes with your car and follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. Visually inspect tires, lights and fluid levels at each refueling. Make sure your spare tire is inflated and pack a first-aid kit and flares in your trunk. If you experience a safety problem with your vehicle, report it to the Auto Safety Hotline to tell the government about potential safety defects. In 1995, 75 percent of NHTSA's defect investigations were initiated by calls to the hotline. Make sure every person in your vehicle buckles up. Correct and consistent use of safety belts is the best safety measure you can adopt. Buying Tips In 1995, the average cost of a car in the United States was $18,000. For such an important financial decision, consumers should think about safety and be prepared when they enter the showroom. o Do some research. Check buying guides to narrow your choices in models and options. Buying guides also help pinpoint prices. o Make safety a priority. Safety features such as air bags, anti-lock brake systems, and side-impact protection should be tops on your list. Also check for other important safety equipment such as a right-side mirror, or a three-point safety belt system with adjustable shoulder-belt anchors. o A weighty decision. Crash data show that heavy vehicles offer more protection than light vehicles with the same safety equipment, particularly in two-car crashes. o Simple safety checks. During your test drive, make sure head restraints, roof structures and windshield designs do not interfere with your visibility. Look for interior designs that avoid control knobs sticking out of the dash that could increase your chance of injury. o Check out clones. Clones are nearly identical models built on the same platform and marketed under a different name. Prices and options vary. You could come out ahead buying the high-end model - with standard ABS and dual air bags - instead of the low-end model with those options added. o Shop around. Negotiate prices or use the help of a buying service. Investigate financing options at the dealer and your bank or credit union. And check the fine print: Does the contract include credit life insurance, which may be available under a policy you already have? o Scrutinize service contracts. Does the factory warranty period overlap the service agreement period? What repairs are covered and who can perform them? What is the cancellation and refund policy? Vehicle Ratings Each year, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests vehicles and provides a one-to-five-star rating on each vehicle's crash protection. A five-star rating indicates the best protection, one star the least. The number of stars represents how well vehicles protect belted drivers and front-seat passengers during a frontal collision. Crash-test dummies are placed in driver and front passenger seats and secured with all available restraints. Instruments measure the force of impact to the dummy's head, chest and legs. Head and chest data, which indicate the chance of life-threatening injury, are combined in a single rating reflected by the number of stars. Thigh injury also is measured. While thigh injury is rarely life-threatening, it can be disabling. None of the 1996 vehicles tested so far had a high likelihood of thigh injury. Federal safety standards require all passenger cars to meet injury criteria measured in a 30 mph frontal crash. NCAP tests are conducted at 35 mph to make the differences between vehicles more apparent. Tests simulate damage equivalent to a vehicle moving at 70 mph striking an identical parked vehicle. Crash-test ratings are meaningful only when comparing vehicles in the same weight class. Results do not reflect the extent to which an occupant in a lightweight vehicle could be injured in a collision with a heavier vehicle. 1996 New Car Safety Features Manufacturers provide buyers the most complete information about safety equipment on their vehicles. Listed below are safety features that are especially important: o Air bags. Air bags inflate instantly in frontal crashes to prevent occupants from hitting the dashboard, steering wheel or windshield at speeds as slow as 15 mph. Driver and front passenger air bags will be standard equipment in all 1998 model year cars and all 1999 model year light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles. Many vehicles already are equipped with this important feature. Air bags do not eliminate the need for safety belts, and they offer no protection in rollovers, rear or side impacts. Safety belts help keep you in place should a collision occur. AIR BAGS AND CHILDREN: Warning: Never use a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger-side air bag. If the air bag opens, it may exert too much force on the safety seat and could fatally injure the child. The safest place for children is in the rear seat. The following vehicles that have a passenger-side air bag and no rear seat now include an air bag cutoff switch for parents using rear-facing child seats: 1996 Ford Ranger pickup; 1997 F-150 pickup; all 1996 Mazda pickup trucks. o Anti-lock brakes. Anti-lock brake systems may prevent a vehicle's wheels from skidding during panic braking and allow the driver to retain steering control as the vehicle slows - a key factor in avoiding a collision. But ABS may not stop your vehicle any faster and you still may lose control with excessive speed or extreme steering maneuvers. ABS also feels different than other braking systems. Owners should expect to feel a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal when ABS is activated. This pulsing is the anti-lock system pumping the brakes many times faster than a human could. When driving a car equipped with ABS, don't pump the brakes - depress the brake pedal firmly without letting up. Read your owner's manual for more information about ABS. o Safety belt systems. Safety belt systems are your best protection in a crash. They prevent you from colliding with the dashboard or windshield and hold you inside the vehicle. Whether manual or automatic, safety belts are most effective if adjusted properly. All safety belts should be pulled tightly across the pelvis. Some systems also offer adjustable anchors that change the height of the shoulder strap to improve belt fit. Check the manufacturer's instructions to adjust safety belts in your car properly. o Side-impact protection. Side-impact crashes are the second-leading cause of death and injury to passenger car occupants. At least 40 percent of 1996 model year passenger cars must be equipped to protect front and rear occupants during a simulated 30 mph side-impact crash. The government requires all 1997 model year passenger cars to have this protection. Many new models provide this protection ahead of the required schedule. Manufacturers can choose from a number of features to fulfill this requirement. Extra structure, energy-absorbing foam, door panel or seat-mounted air bags may be used as long as the car passes the occupant protection requirement. As of this writing, Volvo installed side air bags in all its 1996 model year vehicles and Mercedes-Benz installed side air bags in several of its 1996 model year vehicles. Theft Ratings Theft ratings are compiled from information provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and vehicle manufacturers. NHTSA calculates a theft rating for each vehicle based on the number of vehicles stolen and the number of vehicles manufactured. Based on 1993 data, the latest information available, a mid-point theft rate was calculated. Vehicles with theft ratings above or below that value are noted in the chart. NHTSA requires manufacturers to mark targeted vehicle parts with the vehicle identification number or provide a NHTSA-approved anti-theft device as standard equipment. The Auto Safety Hotline can provide more information on theft. Many insurance companies offer discounts of 5 percent to 20 percent off the comprehensive portion of insurance premiums for vehicles equipped with an anti-theft device. Ask your insurance company if it offers such discounts. Safety Features Air Air Adjustable 1997 Crash Tests Theft Vehicle Bag Bag Belt Side Driver Pass. Size and Type Driver Pass. ABS Anchors Protection Results Results Rating 1996 LIGHT PASSENGER CARS Dodge Neon (4-door) S S A S N **** **** N Eagle Summit (2-door) S S A S N TBT TBT Below Ford Aspire (4-door) S S A N N **** **** N Ford Escort (4-door) S S A N N **** **** Below Geo Metro (4-door) S S A N S **** **** Below Honda Civic (4-door) S S A A A TBT TBT Below Honda Civic (coupe) S S A A A TBT TBT Below Honda del Sol S S A N S N N Below Hyundai Accent (4-door) S S A S S *** **** N Kia Sephia S S A S S N N Below Mazda Miata/MX-5 S S A N N TBT TBT Below Mazda MX-3 S S A N N N N Below Mazda Protege S S A S S *** N Below Mercury Tracer (4-door) S S A N N **** **** Below Mitsubishi Mirage (2-door) S S A S N TBT TBT Above Nissan 200SX S S A N S N N N Nissan Sentra S S A S S **** **** Above Plymouth Neon (4-door) S S A S N **** **** N Saturn (4-door) S S A S A **** **** Below Subaru Impreza (4-door) S S A A S TBT TBT Below Suzuki Esteem S S A S S N N N Suzuki Swift S S A N S N N Above Toyota Celica S S A N S N N Above Toyota Paseo S S A N S N N Below Toyota Tercel (4-door) S S A A S *** **** Below 1996 COMPACT PASSENGER CARS Acura Integra (4-door) S S A A N **** *** Above BMW Z3 roadster S S S N N N N N Buick Skylark (4-door) S S S A N TBT TBT Above Chevrolet Beretta S N S N N N N Above Chevrolet Cavalier (4-door) S S S A N *** *** Above Chevrolet Corsica S N S N N *** ** Above Chrysler Cirrus S S S S S *** N N Chrysler Sebring (2-door) S S A S S ***** ***** N Dodge Avenger S S A S S ***** ***** N Dodge Stratus S S A S S *** N N Eagle Talon S S A S S **** **** Below Ford Contour S S A S S ***** **** N Ford Probe S S A N N ***** **** Above Geo Prizm (4-door) S S A S N **** **** Below Honda Accord (4-door) S S A A S **** *** Above Honda Odyssey S S S S S **** **** N Honda Prelude S S A N N N N Above Hyundai Elantra S S A S N TBT TBT Above Hyundai Sonata S S A S S *** **** Above Infiniti G20 S S S S N N N Below Infiniti 130 S S S S S **** *** N< Mazda 626 S S A S S **** ***** Below Mazda MX-6 S S A N N N N Below Mazda RX-7 S S S N S N N Above< Mercury Mystique S S A S S ***** **** N Mitsubishi Eclipse/Spyder (2-door) S S A A S **** **** Above Mitsubishi Expo S S A S N N N Above Mitsubishi Galant S S A S S N **** Above Nissan 240SX S S A N S *** **** Above Nissan Altima S S A S N **** **** Above Nissan Maxima S S A S S **** *** Above Oldsmobile Achieva (4-door) S S S A N **** **** Below Plymouth Breeze S S A S S *** N N Pontiac Grand Am (4-door) S S S A N **** **** Above Pontiac Sunfire (4-door) S S S A N *** *** N Saab 900 (4-door) S S S A S **** **** Below< Subaru Legacy (4-door) S S A S S **** **** Below Toyota Corolla (4-door) S S A S N **** **** Above VW Cabrio S S S S S N N N< VW Golf S S A S A N N Below< VW Jetta S S A S S *** *** Below< 1996 MEDIUM PASSENGER CARS Acura NSX S S S N S N N Below< Acura TL S S S S S TBT TBT N Audi A4 S S S S S **** ***** N< Audi A6 S S S S S ***** ***** N< Audi Cabriolet S S S N S N N N< BMW 3-Series (328 4-door) S S S A A **** **** Above Buick Century (4-door) S N S N N **** **** Above Buick Regal (2-door) S S S A A **** **** Below< Buick Regal (4-door) S S S A A ***** **** Below< Chevrolet Camaro (2-door) S S S N A ***** ***** Below< Chevrolet Corvette S S S N N N N Above< Chevrolet Lumina S S A S S ***** **** Below< Chevrolet Monte Carlo S S S S S **** **** N< Chrysler Concorde S S S S S **** **** Below Dodge Intrepid S S A S S **** **** Below Dodge Stealth S S A S N N N Above Dodge Viper N N N N S N N Below Eagle Vision S S A S S **** **** Below Ford Mustang Conv. S S A N S ***** ***** Above Ford Mustang (2-door) S S A N S **** **** Above Ford Taurus (4-door) S S A S S **** **** Below Ford Thunderbird S S A N S ***** ***** Above Lexus ES 300 S S S S N TBT TBT Below< Mazda Millenia S S S S S **** ***** N< Mercedes C-Class S S S S S **** **** N< Mercury Cougar S S A N S ***** ***** Above Mercury Sable (4-door) S S A S S **** **** Below Mitsubishi 3000GT/Spyder S S A N N N N Above Nissan 300ZX S S S N N N N Above< Oldsmobile Ciera (4-door) S N S N N **** **** Above Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (2-door) S S S A A **** **** Below Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (4-door) S S S A A ***** **** Below Pontiac Firebird (2-door) S S S N A ***** ***** Below< Pontiac Grand Prix (2-door) S S S A A **** *** Above Pontiac Grand Prix (4-door) S S S A A ***** **** Above Porsche 911 S S S N S N N Above< Saab 9000 S S S S N N N Below< Subaru SVX S S S N S N N Below Toyota Avalon S S A S S **** ***** N Toyota Camry (2-door) S S A A A **** ***** Below Toyota Camry (4-door) S S A A A **** *** Below Toyota Supra S S S N N N N Above< Volvo 850 (4-door) S S S S S ***** **** Below Volvo 960 S S S N S N N Below VW Passat (4-door) S S A S S **** **** Below 1996 HEAVY PASSENGER CARS BMW 7-Series S S S S S N N Below< BMW 8-Series S S S S S N N Above< Buick Lesabre S S S S N ***** *** Below< Buick Park Avenue S S S S N TBT TBT Below< Buick Riviera S S S N S N N Below< Buick Roadmaster (4-door) S S S N S **** ** Below Cadillac DeVille/Concours S S S S S TBT TBT Above< Cadillac Eldorado S S S N S N N Below< Cadillac Fleetwood S S S N S N N Below< Cadillac Seville S S S S S N N Below< Chevrolet Caprice (4-door) S S S N S **** ** Below Chrysler New Yorker/LHS S S S S S **** **** N Ford Crown Victoria S S A S S ***** ***** Below Infiniti J30 S S S S N **** **** Above< Infiniti Q45 S S S S N N N Above< Jaguar XJS/XJ6 S S S A S N N Below Lexus GS 300 S S S S S *** *** Below< Lexus LS 400 S S S S S N N Below< Lexus SC-Coupes S S S N S N N Below< Lincoln Continental S S S S S N N Below Lincoln Mark VIII S S S N S N N Above Lincoln Town Car S S S S S TBT TBT Above Mercedes E-Class S S S S S N N Below< Mercedes S-Class S S S S S N N Above< Mercedes SL-Class S S S S S N N Above< Mercury Grand Marquis S S A S S ***** ***** Below Mitsubishi Diamante S S A S N N N Above< Oldsmobile Eighty Eight S S S S N ***** *** Below< Oldsmobile Ninety Eight S S S S N TBT TBT Below< Oldsmobile Aurora S S S N N *** *** N< Pontiac Bonneville S S S S N ***** *** Below< 1996 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES Acura SLX S S S S NA TBT TBT N Chevrolet S-10 Blazer (4-door) S N S N NA *** * Above Chevrolet Suburban S N S S NA TBT TBT N Chevrolet Tahoe S N S S NA **** *** N Ford Bronco S N S N NA ***** ***** N Ford Explorer (4-door) S S S S NA **** **** Below Geo Tracker (2-door) S S A N NA TBT TBT Above GMC Jimmy (4-door) S N S N NA *** * Above GMC Suburban S N S S NA TBT TBT N GMC Yukon S N S S NA **** *** N Honda Passport S S S N NA **** *** N Isuzu Rodeo S S S N NA **** *** Below Isuzu Trooper (4-door) S S S S NA TBT TBT Below Jeep Cherokee (4-door) S N A N NA **** **** Above Jeep Grand Cherokee S S S S NA TBT TBT Above Jeep Wrangler TJ S S A S NA N N Above Jeep Wrangler YJ N N A N NA ** **** Above Kia Sportage S N S N NA TBT TBT N Land Rover Discovery S S S S NA *** *** N Land Rover Range Rover S S S S NA N N N Mitsubishi Montero S S A S NA TBT TBT Above Nissan Pathfinder S S S S NA TBT TBT Above Oldsmobile Bravada S N S N NA *** * Above Suzuki Sidekick (2-door) S S A N NA TBT TBT Above Suzuki X-90 S S S S NA N N N Toyota 4Runner S S A S NA TBT TBT Above Toyota Land Cruiser S S S S NA N N N Toyota RAV4 S S A A NA N N N 1996 LIGHT TRUCKS Chevrolet C/K Pickup (1500) S N S S NA TBT TBT Below Chevrolet S-10 Pickup S N S N NA *** * Below Dodge Dakota Pickup S N S N NA ***** **** Below Dodge Ram Pickup (1500) S N S N NA ***** N Below Ford F-Series Pickup (F-150) S N S N NA ***** ***** Below Ford Ranger Pickup S A S S NA **** **** Below Ford Ranger Pickup (Pass.AB) S A S S NA TBT TBT Below GMC Sierra Pickup S N S S NA TBT TBT Below GMC Sonoma Pickup S N S N NA *** * Below Mazda Pickup S A S S NA **** **** Below Mazda Pickup (Pass.AB) S A S S NA TBT TBT Below Mitsubishi Pickup N N N N NA *** *** Above Nissan Pickup S N S N NA TBT TBT Above Toyota Tacoma Pickup S N A S NA ** *** N Toyota T100 Pickup S N A S NA **** ***** Below 1996 VANS Chevrolet Astro Van S S S S NA TBT TBT Above Chevrolet Van & Express S S S S NA TBT TBT Above Chevrolet Lumina/APV S N S N NA ***** *** Above Chrysler Town & Country S S S S NA *** **** Below Dodge Caravan S S A S NA *** **** Below Dodge Ram Van/Wagon S N S N NA TBT TBT Above Ford Aerostar Van S N S N NA **** *** Below Ford Econoline/E150 Van S N S N NA **** *** Above Ford Windstar S S S S NA ***** ***** N GMC Savana S S S S NA TBT TBT Above GMC Safari Van S S S S NA TBT TBT Below Mazda MPV S S S N NA TBT TBT Below Mercury Villager S S S N NA TBT TBT Below Nissan Quest S S A S NA TBT TBT Below Oldsmobile Silhouette S N S N NA ***** *** Above Plymouth Voyager S S A S NA *** **** Below Pontiac Transport S N S N NA ***** *** Above Toyota Previa S S A S NA **** *** Below Crash Results: ***** Best, * Worst, TBT (To be tested), N (Not available); Body style tested or to be tested is shown in parenthesis. Air Bags, ABS, Adjustable Belt Anchors, 1997 Side Protection: S (Standard equipment), A (Available on some body styles), N (Not available), NA (Not applicable) Theft Rating: Above (Above mid-point theft rate), Below (Below mid-point theft rate), N (Theft Rates Not available) NHTSA-Approved Anti-Theft Device Installed, Parts Marking Exemption Granted: < The Correct Way to Wear a Safety Belt [graphics omitted] Important car-buying information brought to you by: American Automobile Association National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Federal Trade Commisssion Printed in USA 1/96 Stock No. 2291