The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has
released new data about the safest mid-size cars on the market.
The
data is based on a side crash test of seven midsize cars at around
40 mph with a 42-pound barrier. Here’s what the test shows:
Subaru Outback is the only midsize sedan to earn a
good rating. Hyundai Sonata and Volkswagen Jetta manage acceptable ratings. The
Honda Accord earned a marginal rating. The Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry earned poor ratings.
Overall, the initial group of midsize cars did not
perform as well as the first batches of small and midsize SUVs evaluated
earlier. One reason could be their lower ride height.
This year, an updated side
crash test uses a heavier barrier traveling at a higher speed to simulate the
striking vehicle.