First-Ever Convertible Crash Tests

It's summertime and not surprisingly, convertible sales are up. While nothing beats driving around with the top down, exactly how safe are convertibles when compared to a regular car? For the first time ever, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted crash tests on convertibles. To earn the top award, a vehicle had to have good ratings in all three Institute crash tests, front, side and rear. Among ten mid-sized models tested, the best performers were the Saab 9-3 and the Volvo C70. Both of which earned the overall Top Pick for crash protection.

That means, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these two convertibles are actually safer in many ways, than many vehicles they've tested with fixed roofs. Automakers from Saab say they compensated for the absence of the roof by reinforcing the windshield header rail, the A-pillars, and also made the door sills wider and larger than in a regular sedan.

In addition, to be a Top Pick the Institute had an extra requirement for convertibles -- a roll bar system -- as rollovers are the deadliest situation for convertibles. The Saab 9-3 has a supplemental restraint system that is designed to anticipate and react to a potential rollover situation.
Produced for General Motors

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First Time IIHS Tests Convertibles

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The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior crash protection in the first tests the Institute has conducted of 10 midsize convertible models. The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes, and both models include standard electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can help drivers avoid crashes. The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's acceptable for frontal crash protection but only marginal for protection in side and rear impacts. While the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes.
Produced for IIHS

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IIHS First Release of Convertibles

The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior crash protection in the first tests the Institute has conducted of 10 midsize convertible models. The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes, and both models include standard electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can help drivers avoid crashes. The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's acceptable for frontal crash protection but only marginal for protection in side and rear impacts. While the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes.
Produced for IIHS

Technorati: audi convertible crash iihs pontiac protection saab safety volvo

IIHS First Release Of Convertibles

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The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior crash protection in the first tests the Institute has conducted of 10 midsize convertible models. The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes, and both models include standard electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can help drivers avoid crashes. The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's acceptable for frontal crash protection but only marginal for protection in side and rear impacts. While the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes. Produced for IIHS

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Volvo S80 Side into Barrier

A side impact crash test of a Volvo S80 into a barrier at 38 MPH. rating; Good.

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