Ford Minivan Beats 8 Rivals in Crash Test
The Ford Windstar minivan outperformed eight competitors in protecting occupants in a crash test, according to results of an insurance industry study released Tuesday.
The Windstar was the only van to earn a “good” rating when it hit a barrier at 40 mph, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported.
At the other end of the scale, the poorest performance was turned in by the Pontiac Trans Sport, which suffered a massive collapse of its passenger compartment, the institute said.
In general, vans have good on-the-road crash experience because they are large and generally driven by low-risk drivers, said Brian O’Neill, president of the Washington-based institute.
“What the new crash test results reveal is that injury risk in passenger vans would be even lower if all of them performed like the Windstar,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill also noted that the Windstar recorded an excellent performance in the government’s test--a 35-mph head-on crash into a barrier--prompting him to give the vehicle a “best-pick” rating.
The poor performance of the Pontiac was attributed to an underbody beam supporting the engine. In an accident, “instead of crumpling, this beam acts like a battering ram, driving backward and contributing to the collapse of the occupant compartment,” O’Neill said.
The institute’s report says damage to the test dummies suggested that people in such an accident would suffer leg and probably neck injuries.
“The GM minivans are safe vehicles,” said Pontiac spokesman Kyle Johnson, who said the company has conducted 72 tests of the vehicles in a variety of crash situations.
In a statement, he criticized the institute for producing ratings based on a single test involving a type of accident he called extremely rare. “Any automobile manufacturer would be severely criticized if it marketed the safety of its vehicle on the basis of only one test,” Johnson said.
Sister vehicles of the Trans Sport are the Oldsmobile Silhouette and the Chevrolet Venture.
Findings on other tested vehicles:
* Mazda MPV: rated marginal because of damage to occupant compartment.
* Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Plymouth Grand Voyager: rated marginal; structural performance seemed good but there was too much damage near the dummies’ feet.
* Honda Odyssey, Isuzu Oasis: rated marginal because of damage in the foot-well area.
* Nissan Quest, Mercury Villager: rated marginal because of potential leg injury and contact of the dummy’s head with the steering wheel through the air bag.
* Chevrolet Astro, GMC Safari: rated poor because of occupant compartment damage and potential lower leg injury.
* Ford Aerostar: rated poor for occupant compartment damage and substantial upward and rearward movement of the steering wheel.
* Toyota Previa: rated poor because of “marginal structural performance,” excessive belt slack and potential leg injury.
