2008 Smart ForTwo Crash Test
19 May, 2008
10 Comments 
Smart has lived up to its name producing a car which although is noticeably small in size, is not small in safety features. The U.S. safety authority, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently gave high marks for safety to the tiny Smart ForTwo.
The light car scored the organisation’s top score in frontal and side-impact crashes. A remarkable achievement for a car which many incorrectly assume as unsafe.
For the other tests - protecting occupants in rear impacts, the institute rated Smart’s seats and headrests “acceptable,” the second-highest score. The institute was quick to point out however, that simple laws of physics dictate that bigger and heavier vehicles are generally better overall.
“All things being equal in safety, bigger and heavier is always better. But among the smallest cars, the engineers of the Smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package.” President Adrian Lund said
There was some confusion and controversy initially with a leaked video of a crash test showing the driver’s door becoming unlatched in side-impact crashes, the video was swiftly removed from YouTube and replaced with an official one embedded below:
Click through to read our first steer of the Smart ForTwo and tell us, given its high score, do you consider the ForTwo as a safe car? Or does the miniature size play on your mind?
Location: Home / Smart, Videos, Safety, Car News / ...
Rate Post: 
(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...
-
Print it:
May 19th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Der……. behemoth kenworth vs Smart four two… truck win. That said, it seems to have done a whole lot better than the daewoo barina.
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 9:27 am
It’s not the Kenworth thing that’s scary - even in a Hummer you’re mincemeat against a Kenworth. It’s the fact that most other vehicles on the road are potential Kenworths if you’re in something as small and light as a Smart.
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I guess if you got hit by a bigger vehicle it would ’smart’ a little…
Couldn’t resist a such a cheap joke…
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Thats why you pay a lot of money for a small car!
SAFETY!
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Oouch that took a huge hit and pulled up amazing as. Great work goes into its design!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
It would be somewhat pointless producing an unsafe car in Europe. Constructive critism of Merc A-class nearly killed it before its launch after the Swedes did an “Elk test” on it.
I’ve no problems about size and safety of the Smart, its just the Smart is just too impractical for my chaotic lifestyle, beside if I had to have something like this then electric is the way to go.
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Fifth gear did a test of a Volvo 940 Estate vs a Renault Modus. Interesting viewing in regards to the mass vs safety rating debate. I think this might be the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ygYUYia9I
(Report)
May 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Fifth Gear did a test between a Volvo 940 Estate vs a Renault Modus. Interesting viewing in regards to the mass vs safety rating debate. It can be viewed on YouTube.
(Report)
May 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
they are still unsafe.
it is good for its class, but if compared to other common vehicles on our road it wouldnt fare too well.
their is a poor picture painted about crash tests.
they are only tested aginst objects of their own size.
how many People really think a 5 star Focus is safer to be in than a 4 star BA falcon?
i know which one i would rather be in if you know what hits the fan.
(and its not the one with the higher star rating)
(Report)
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I would never buy one as it looks like a toy car and is too small. Cannot even fit any luggage in it. Doubt the resale value (if any) will be any good.
(Report)