Many people assume that bigger cars automatically offer more safety in a crash. In reality, the safest protection often comes from how a vehicle is engineered rather than its size alone. A recent series of side-impact crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety brought that idea into sharp relief. The tests showed that several full-size sedans do not deliver optimal protection for occupants when the impact comes from the side.
In these evaluations, a payload of roughly 1.9 tons acted as a stationary barrier while the test vehicles traveled at 60 km/h. This setup mirrors a common real-world scenario where a large, heavy object collides with a passenger car from the side, highlighting the crucial interaction between unibody construction, side airbags, and pillar design in safeguarding passengers during a lateral collision. The results underscore how the whole structure, not just the exterior dimensions, determines crash outcomes and occupant survival in a side impact.
The following models were evaluated:
- Subaru Outback (Wagon only)
- Hyundai Sonata
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Camry
- Nissan Altima
- Chevrolet Malibu
Among these vehicles, the Subaru Outback demonstrated the strongest overall protection, maintaining robust occupant safety when struck from the side. The Hyundai Sonata and the Volkswagen Jetta earned a satisfactory rating; their interiors showed more deformation during the crash, but the airbag system helped reduce injury risk and contributed positively to the final score. The observations reinforce how effective restraint systems and door-area design can influence the likelihood of injuries in real-world side crashes.
In contrast, occupants inside the Honda Accord faced a higher risk of pelvic and head injuries due to the crash dynamics. The Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu were rated poorly, indicating a greater chance of injury to the head, neck, or torso for the driver and front passenger. In several runs, the dummies’ heads did not adequately contact the airbag as designed, while rigid pillar components appeared to play a larger role in overall injury risk. These results emphasize the critical role of structural design and restraint systems in reducing harm during side impacts, and they illustrate how pillar engineering and airbag placement interact to protect occupants under lateral load.
IIHS also noted that smaller and medium-size crossovers tended to perform better in this specific test scenario. The findings suggest that vehicle geometry and door-sill design can influence side-impact outcomes. This information is valuable for families weighing the safety of SUVs and crossovers against traditional sedans when side crash protection is a priority. It also points to the importance of choosing models with balanced dimensions, reinforced door structures, and well-integrated side airbags for improved protection in side collisions.
For consumers, these results emphasize that a larger car does not automatically guarantee superior safety in a side collision. Rather, the effectiveness of protection depends on how the vehicle manages forces from the door area, how airbags deploy, and how the cabin structure and pillars resist intrusion. This insight can guide buyers toward models that balance space with strong crash protection and well-engineered restraint systems, helping shoppers make more informed choices about real-world protection in side impacts.
Photo, video: IIHS