Special Report
The Most Dangerous Cars in America
August 20, 2015 6:28 am
Last Updated: March 13, 2020 8:27 pm
16. Sportage
> Make: Kia
> Bad ratings: Small overlap front
> Sales year-to-date: 29,247
> MSRP: $21,900
The Kia Sportage is the Korean automaker’s foothold in the crossover SUV market. In 2007, the vehicle received no top safety marks from the IIHS. Though the vehicle is much safer today than it was eight years ago, it is still relatively unsafe. In head-on collisions with a small overlap, the Sportage received a rating of poor, the worst possible rank. According to the test results, injuries to the driver’s left knee and left lower leg would be possible in such a crash, while risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low. As of July, Kia sold more than 29,000 Sportages so far in 2015.
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17. Town & Country
> Make: Chrysler
> Bad ratings: Small overlap front
> Sales year-to-date: 45,404
> MSRP: $29,995
The Chrysler Town & Country has long been a suitable option for families. The first two years of the vehicle’s fifth generation were marked by increased safety in side and moderate front overlap collisions. However, IIHS safety tests revealed a decline in the effectiveness of the minivan’s head restraints. These shortcomings were addressed in 2010 and every subsequent model year. The 2015 Town & Country scored well in all collision tests except in frontal collisions with small overlap. The vehicle received a poor rating in that category due to the high likelihood of significant injuries from the hip down in such accidents.
18. Tucson
> Make: Hyundai
> Bad ratings: Small overlap front
> Sales year-to-date: 26,542
> MSRP: $21,650
During partial overlap crash tests of the 2015 Hyundai Tucson, the side curtain airbag failed to deploy, “leaving the dummy’s head vulnerable to contacts with side structure and outside objects.” While the current version of the Tucson received perfect marks in other tests, besides the partial overlap crash, earlier generations had more widespread safety issues. A 2007 version of the vehicle, for example, scored acceptable rating in moderate overlap frontal and side crashes, and it received the worst possible ratings for roof strength and head restraints and seats.
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19. Versa
> Make: Nissan
> Bad ratings: Small overlap front
> Sales year-to-date: 76,904
> MSRP: $11,990
Introduced to American drivers in 2007, the Versa is Nissan’s utilitarian subcompact car.
Currently in its second generation, Consumer Reports concluded that the vehicle’s quality has declined since its first generation. Though the 2015 Versa passed most of the IIHS safety tests, it received a rating of poor, the lowest grade possible, in frontal collisions with a small overlap. Crash tests revealed that the “driver’s space was seriously compromised by intruding structure” in such accidents.
20. 2-door Wrangler
> Make: Jeep
> Bad ratings: Side, head restraints & seats (4-door) small overlap front, side, head restraints & seats (2-door)
> Sales year-to-date: 121,770
> MSRP: $26,795 (4-door) $22,995 (2-door)
Now available to the general public, the Jeep Wrangler has roots as a military transport vehicle in WWII. Today, the Jeep Wrangler is one of the most popular cars in the country, selling nearly 122,000 units year-to-date. Despite the SUV’s popularity, both the 2-door and 4-door models have dismal safety ratings from the IIHS. The 4-door Wrangler, received marginal ratings for side impact collisions and the safety of its head restraints. Testing by the IIHS revealed that “rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be likely” in the case of a side impact collision.
The 2-door model Wrangler is even less safe. It received the worst possible rating of poor for side impact collisions, and marginal ratings for both the effectiveness of its head restraints and head-on collisions with a small overlap. The IIHS observed that in the event of a side impact collision, torso and pelvis injuries would be likely.
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