New cars...side airbags

   / New cars...side airbags #1  

randy41

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2005
Messages
1,794
Location
Linden VA
We are looking to buy a new car. A civic/corolla type. I don't understand how a car equipped with side airbags and a car not equipped with them can get the same star rating for side impact crashes. Seems to me it makes side airbags useless.
o...any vehicle recommendations are also welcome but its the airbag thing that has me confused.
 
   / New cars...side airbags #2  
Bigger than you are talking, but we went on a new vehicle search in May and ended up with a Sienna. Had to carry at least 4 adults comfortably, mileage over 20mpg, enough zip to be very comfortable on interstate, and a few other parameters. We live semi-rural, and are getting 21-25mpg consistently depending on where driven (and the driver...I get better mileage than DW). Two x-way trips of app. 450 miles each got 29mpg (this trip was run at app. 68-73mph most of the trip) and 27mpg (this trip was a nightmare....traffic was running 12-15 over the limit most of the way, and I had to drive 78-80 to avoid getting run over). I'm pretty convinced it would break 30mpg at 60-65. With 4 adults it will accelerate at 60mph as well as my truck (HD F250 w/ 5.4 gas and 373 rear end) and thus impresses the heck out of me. Handles & drives like a sedan....REALLY impresses me. We have owned 4 Corollas FWIW, still have a '96. The deal-sealer....we walked off the lot with a Sienna LE (middle level--there's CE, LE, and XLE) with everything we wanted on it for $23,800 + sales tax. No other charges. 5 months later we would still make the same choice with no hesitation. We have had 6 adults (and in my family a male adult is at least 200#) in it and it still handles very well. Haven't had 7 in it yet.
 
   / New cars...side airbags #3  
My guess is that the car has to pass certain tests to get the rating. HOW it gets the rating is not judged. They engineers can use steel and structure in the doors to get the rating or they can put in an air bag.

If this air bag protects the head then I would really be confused and the above guess would not make sense. :eek::D

Seem like I read that the what is killing/seriously injury people in side impact collisions with modern vehicles is the head striking the glass or frame of the vehicle and the next measure was an air bag the deployed to protect the head.

Later,
Dan
 
   / New cars...side airbags
  • Thread Starter
#4  
i found an insurance industry sponsored website in which the advantages of side air bags are explained and the ratings are more in line with that. The government ratings are based on torso damage with no consideration for other body parts.
So what Dan said is applicable.
Looks like we'll be getting a civic. We need a new commuter vehicle.
 

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