‘06 Fusion Rates Poor in Side Crash Test
The 2006 Ford Fusion received poor marks in offering motorists protection in side crashes, according to new crash tests released Sunday by the insurance industry.
The Fusion, a mid-size sedan starting at $17,795, received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s lowest mark on side-impact tests conducted on a model without optional side air bags. On front-crash tests, the Fusion received the institute’s second-best mark of acceptable.
“Nearly every car now earns good ratings in our frontal test,” said Adrian Lund, the institute’s president. He said the Fusion was not competitive with other cars in its class and was the “lowest-rated moderately priced mid-size car we’ve evaluated.”
The test results also apply to the 2006 Mercury Milan, the Fusion’s corporate twin.
Ford Motor Co. spokesman Dan Jarvis said side air bags and side curtain bags would be standard on 2007 models built after September. The automaker has requested additional front- and side-impact testing for a model with the air-bag option, which costs an additional $595. “We expect it will earn higher side-impact test ratings with that standard equipment,” Jarvis said.
The institute released test ratings for eight new or redesigned midsize and luxury cars. The 2006 BMW 3 series and Lexus IS were considered the best overall performers in the group, receiving top ratings in both front and side testing.
In the institute’s front-crash test, vehicles strike a barrier on the driver’s side at 40 mph. In the side-impact test, vehicles are struck with a barrier moving at 31 mph to reflect the force of a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle.
