The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Latest NHTSA Crash Tests, Rollover Ratings - June 2004

NHTSA 26-04
Monday, June 7, 2004

    The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released crash test results for the last 2004 vehicles and some early 2005 vehicles. The agency also released additional rollover ratings for 2004 vehicles.

    All results, including previously tested model year 2004 vehicles, are available at the agency’s web site: www.safercar.gov.

    The 2004 Toyota Solara Coupe and the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox 4x4 are the only vehicles in the latest batch to earn the top rating of five stars for frontal and side impact crash tests. NHTSA’s consumer information program uses a one- to five-star ranking system that reflects a vehicle’s ability to protect the driver and passenger in a crash.

    New model year 2004 ratings for rollover varied, with passenger cars generally scoring higher than SUVs. For passenger cars, the Mazda RX-8 received the top rating of five stars for rollover. For the light truck category, the highest scoring vehicles included the Dodge Durango 4x4, the Ford F-150, the Honda Pilot 4x4 and the Toyota Sienna, each receiving a 4-star rating for rollover. NHTSA also uses a five-star scale to rate a vehicle on its likelihood of rollover in a single vehicle crash.

    New 2004 ratings for frontal impact are available for the Chrysler Crossfire two-door, Mazda RX-8 four-door and Toyota 4Runner 4x4 sport utility. For model year 2005, new frontal impact ratings are available for the Chevrolet Equinox 4x4 sport utility, Chrysler Town & Country minivan, Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, Ford Escape 4x4 sport utility, and Mazda Tribute 4x4 sport utility.

    New model year 2004 ratings for side impact are available for the Acura TL four-door, Chevrolet Aveo four-door, Chrysler Crossfire two-door, Mitsubishi Galant four-door, and Toyota Solara Coupe two-door. For model year 2005, new side impact star ratings are available for the Chevrolet Equinox 4x4 sport utility, Chrysler 300C four-door, Chrysler Town & Country minivan, and the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

    New model year 2004 ratings for rollover are available for the Acura TL four-door, Acura TSX four-door, Chevrolet Aveo four-door, Chevrolet Malibu LS four-door, Chevrolet Tahoe 4x2 sport utility, Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 sport utility, Dodge Durango 4x2 sport utility, Dodge Durango 4x4 sport utility, Ford Explorer 4x2 sport utility, Ford Explorer 4x4 sport utility, Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x4 sport utility, Ford F-150 4x2 extended cab pickup, Ford F-150 4x4 extended cab pickup, GMC Yukon 4x4 sport utility, GMC Yukon 4x2 sport utility, Honda Pilot 4x4 sport utility, Hyundai Accent four-door, Hyundai Elantra four-door, Hyundai Tiburon two-door, Hyundai XG350L four-door, KIA Amanti four-door, Mazda 3 four-door, Mazda RX-8 four-door, Mercury Mountaineer 4x2 sport utility, Mercury Mountaineer 4x4 sport utility, Nissan Maxima 3.5SE four-door, Pontiac Grand Prix GT four-door, Suzuki Forenza four-door, Toyota Prius five-door, Toyota Sienna van, Toyota Solara SLE two-door, Toyota Tacoma 4x2 extended cab pickup, and Volkswagen New Beetle convertible.

    A fact sheet containing explanatory information and tables showing crash tests results for recently released model year 2004 and 2005 vehicles can be obtained by calling the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline, 1‑888‑327‑4236. Crash test information is available at NHTSA’s web site: www.safercar.gov. The site also can be used to compare scores for older vehicles. A table showing the rollover and crash test results announced today is posted at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.


    Model Year 2004 New Crash Test Results
    Make and Model Curb Weight
    (lbs)
    Size / Class Year Front
    Driver
    Front
    Pass
    Side
    Driver
    Side Rear
    Pass
    Acura 3.2 TL 4-DR. w/SAB 3558 Heavy 2004 5 5 4 5
    Chevrolet Aveo 4-DR. 2459 Light 2004 5 5 3 3
    Chrysler Crossfire 2-DR. 3091 Medium 2004 5 4 5 NS
    Mazda RX-8 4-DR. w/SAB 3003 Medium 2004 4 5 4 4
    Mitsubishi Galant 4-DR. 3412 Medium 2004 5 5 5 4
    Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. 4x4 4396 SUV 2004 4 4 5 5
    Toyota Camry Solara Coupe 2-DR 3234 Medium 2004 5 5 5 5

    Model Year 2005 New Crash Test Results
    Make and Model Curb Weight
    (lbs)
    Class Year Front
    Driver
    Front
    Pass
    Side
    Driver
    Side Rear
    Pass
    Chevrolet Equinox 4-DR.4x4 3815 SUV 2005 5 5 5 5
    Chrysler Town & Country LWB 4301 Van 2005 4 4 5 5
    Chrysler 300C 4-DR 3714 Heavy 2005 TBT TBT 4 5
    Dodge Grand Caravan* 4301 Van 2005 4 4 5 5
    Ford Escape 4-DR. 4x4 3410 SUV 2005 4 4 5 5
    Mazda Tribute 4-DR. 4x4** 3410 SUV 2005 4 4 5 5

    TBT = To Be Tested
    SAB = Side-impact Air Bag
    SUV = Sport Utility Vehicle
    NS = No seat

    * = corporate twin of Chrysler Town & Country LWB
    ** = corporate twin of Ford Escape 4-DR 4x4


    Model Year 2004 New Rollover Results
    Make and Model Class Rollover Star
    Rating
    Acura TL 4-DR PC 4
    Acura TSX 4-DR PC 4
    Chevrolet Aveo 4-DR PC 4
    Chevrolet Malibu LS 4-DR PC 4
    Chevrolot Tahoe 4x2 SUV 3#
    Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 SUV 3#
    Dodge Durango 4x2 SUV 3
    Dodge Durango 4x4 SUV 4
    Ford Explorer 4-DR 4x2 SUV 3#
    Ford Explorer 4-DR 4x4 SUV 3
    Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x4 SUV 3
    Ford F-150 4x2 extended cab SUV 4
    Ford F-150 4x4 extended cab SUV 4
    GMC Yukon 4x2 (a) SUV 3#
    GMC Yukon 4x4 (b) SUV 3#
    Honda Pilot 4x4 SUV 4
    Hyundai Accent 4-DR PC 4
    Hyundai Elantra 4-DR PC 4
    Hyundai Tiburon 2-DR PC 4
    Hyundai XG350L 4-DR PC 4
    KIA Amanti 4-DR PC 4
    Mazda 3 4-DR PC 4
    Mazda RX-8 4-DR PC 5
    Mercury Mountaineer 4-DR 4x2 (c) SUV 3#
    Mercury Mountaineer 4-DR 4x4 (d) SUV 3
    Nissan Maxima 3.5SE 4-DR PC 4
    Pontiac Grand Prix GT 4-DR PC 4
    Suzuki Forenza 4-DR PC 4
    Toyota Prius 5-DR PC 4
    Toyota Sienna Van 4
    Toyota Solara SLE 2-DR PC 4
    Toyota Tacoma 4x2 extended cab Pickup 4#
    Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible PC 4

    # = During test, the vehicle tipped up on two wheels.
    PC = Passenger Car 
    SUV = Sport Utility Vehicle
    (a) Corporate twin of Chevrolet Tahoe 4-DR 4x2

    (b) Corporate twin of Chevrolet Tahoe 4-DR 4x4
    (c) Corporate twin of Ford Explorer 4-DR 4x2
    (d) Corporate twin of Ford Explorer 4-DR 4x4