Smart Fortwo performs well in crash tests, but still better to go big

The Associated Press is showing a video news report about the recent crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the smart fortwo vehicle.

The smart fortwo received ‘Good’ ratings for front and side impact crash tests, and a ‘Acceptable’ for rear-end crash tests. The smart fortwo is the smallest car currently being offered in the US and it is the smallest car that the IIHS has ever tested.

With that said, the IIHS reminds consumers that although the smart car performed well in tests, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything if you get into a crash with a larger vehicle. In the end, the larger vehicle almost always wins the fight (even if both of you lose).

IIHS crash test report for the 2008 smart fortwo

Here’s a video of a 2008 smart fortwo crash test.

All of this talk about smart car crash tests got me thinking about an earlier crash test I’ve seen where a similar smart car was driven at 70mph into a concrete barrier. The results of that crash test (which can be seen in the video below) weren’t pretty, but the steel cage of the smart car did stand just as well then as it does now.

So what’s to be taken from this crash report? Certainly, the smart car performs well in tests, but practically speaking, it looks like you’re gonna be dead if you find yourself in a high-speed crash in a smart car. Or if not dead, then at least without any legs.