Jeep Comanche Fares Poorly During Crash Test

Eight 1987 vehicles carrying dummies were smashed into a fixed object in a federal crash test and results showed that the Jeep Comanche pickup truck fared the worst, while the Ford Mustang LX performed best.

With seat-belted dummies monitored for force of impact, all of the vehicles were crashed at 35 m.p.h.--5 m.p.h. faster than prescribed for compliance with safety standards--in front-end tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the key head-injury criterion, the Jeep Comanche pickup scored 1,052 points for the driver and 2,700 for the passenger, the NHTSA said last week. The Ford Mustang LX fared best with 479 and 301, respectively.

The lower the number, the less likelihood of injury. A score of 1,000 indicates serious brain injury or death.

The rest of the test results, indicating head injury levels for driver and passenger, included: Chevrolet Camaro, 733 and 660; Hyundai Excel, 716 and 1,003; Yugo GV, 1,855 and 379; Pontiac Sunbird, 603 and 404; Dodge Dakota pickup, 985 and 754, and Plymouth Voyager van, 903 and 501.