The Institute's ratings reflect performance in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier. Based on the results of this test, the Institute evaluates the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles, assigning each vehicle a rating of good, acceptable, marginal or poor. The better performers among the vehicles with good ratings also are designated "best picks."

"This set of crash test results continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of consumer safety information in improving frontal crashworthiness," Institute president Brian O'Neill said. "When we completed our first set of offset tests of 14 midsize cars in 1995, only three earned good ratings. So far this year, all small and midsize car designs we've tested are rated good. In fact, it's now unusual for us to test a new passenger vehicle design of any type or size and not get a good rating."

The Institute previously evaluated the crashworthiness of predecessor Corolla and Accord models. In each case the performance of the new model improved, compared with the older design. The predecessor Corolla was acceptable, while the new design is rated good. The Institute has tested two predecessor Accord designs, both of which were acceptable. "Now the new Accord design is the Institute's highest rated midsize inexpensive car," O'Neill said.

Structural design is key to good performance: All five cars the Institute tested earned good rat ings for structural performance in the offset test. The occupant compartments of these cars held up well, preserving the space around the driver dummy.

A vehicle's structural design is key to its crashworthiness performance because the Institute's frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier is especially demanding of this aspect of vehicle design. The driver side hits the barrier, so a relatively small area of the vehicle's front-end structure must manage the crash energy. This means intrusion into the occupant compartment is much more likely to occur than in a full-width test. (CONTINUE...)