Why the 6th generation's side impact crashworthiness rating is Marginal, while the 2006 Honda Civic's rating is Good? I think the price differential favors the Honda, which also is far superior in side impacts...

 

Price differential doesn't factor in crash tests.

From the Consumer Reports i have, it's only marginal without the side airbags. There haven't been standard since 04 right?

 

In my experience, more expensive cars have had better crash test results, but this is probably not a super consistent relationship. It is pathetic, however, that a 30 thousand dollar vehicle graded two full ratings lower than the lowly Civic, IMHO. I for one will not buy another car without first determining that it has a "good" rating for all types of impacts, even tho I love my Max...

 

How about be a safe driver? Just a thought

 

I stand by my previous post. Being a safe driver--while an excellent idea-- is not immune to the recklessness and carelessness of others. I want a car that is going to offer me the best protection possible, and I think 30K should cover it.

 

I thought we had a good rating I have side airbags

 

Sorry to have to convey the bad news. Check out this link:http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=371

 

Yeah, same here... ???

 

there's a few crash test, one says the maxima had a five star test, others say less.

I dunno who's right..

 

Maybe during the test, Civic is too light it flies off for few feet when hit from the side, whileas Maxima just sits there and simply take the impact... ? :P

 

Actually, you have a point... one thing that really kind of muddies the waters slightly is that these types of tests stipulate that the results are only valid for collisions involving objects of the same weight. So if you are in a lighter car (even with a high crash rating) and get hit by a heavier car, these scores are kind of meaningless... so in the case of the civic, the (essentially) tested it by hitting it with another civic.

So, at the end of the day I think I'd rather be riding in a Maxima anyway.

 

unfortunately most side impacts result from other drivers (T-bones/etc) where you have limited control

 

Recent testing indicates strongly that side air bags make a bigger difference than anything else in side impacts. I hope to never have a car without side air bags.

As to the testing of side impacts without side air bags, the geometry strongly favors the Civic over the Maxima. The length of the 'B' pillar on the Civic is considerably shorter than that of the Maxima. In other words, there is a much larger verticle area of glass in the side of the Maxima near the 'B' pillar.

That is as a result of two things: the Maxima is a larger car with a larger cabin, and the styling of the Maxima makes the roof very high right at the 'B' pillar, leaving the 'B' post with a long a span to cover. The longer the span, the more strength required for equivalent resistance.

As it happens, almost all side impact testing is done centered on the 'B' pillar.

 

... one thing that really kind of muddies the waters slightly is that these types of tests stipulate that the results are only valid for collisions involving objects of the same weight. So if you are in a lighter car (even with a high crash rating) and get hit by a heavier car, these scores are kind of meaningless... so in the case of the civic, the (essentially) tested it by hitting it with another civic.[/QUOTE]

Actually, you are correct about the tests involving cars of equivalent weights--but only for frontal impact testing. For side impacts, all cars are tested with the same impact force. Click on this link:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testin...000/page2.html

 

For a detailed description of side impact testing, click on this link and then on the "launch" link at the upper right-hand side of the page. While I agree with Light that the height of the B pillar is a factor, it looks to me like the design of the interior air bags may be even more important...


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6152951/

 

Aw, thanks for the correction.

 

True too, I wasn't trying to flame you, just getting my "point across"

 

True as well, but you gotta have some cat-like reflexes man! lol

 

Reflexes certainly help. So do little things like:

Not tearing away from stoplights so that you can avoid people running lights perpendicular to you.

Not running traffic lights yourself.

Watching how the guy/gal behind you is following you and stopping, and letting them pass if they're driving recklessly or following too closely.

Using your turn signals first to indicate lane changes, THEN changing lanes.

Watching for pedestrians and cyclists--especially bicyclists, who often seem to feel they own the road in all directions, and seldom stop when they are supposed to--instead expecting YOU to stop, even when you have the right-of-way.

Looking out for others while backing up or coming out of your driveway.

Not dialing your cell while moving.

Remembering that you are operating a machine that can kill or maim if improperly used.

P.S.: !PrjctMax!, I didn't think you were flaming, but thanks anyway...

 

Perfectly said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I was thinking more along the lines of you are just driving along, perfectly in the right and someone who has either lost control of their vechicle or is driving impaired t-bones you/etc.

There are some situations where no matter how safe you are or how quick your reflexes are, it's just not going to be enough.

 

Precisely why you need a car that has good side impact resistance. Of course, if a jetliner drops an engine on you, you are going to die...

 

That's interesting. I never really thought about side impact protection until my brother got side swiped a few months ago.

 

This test was based on one point of impact, right smack in the center of the car. This page http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=568 shows why they gave it MARGINAL. The main point of this impact was the B-pilar. With our long front doors, the A-pilar was hardly touched on this test. A different point of impact will probably get different result. I'm not defending Nissan or Maxima, just my observation from looking at the pics.

 

Thanks for the link. I didn't know side impact resistance was all good for 6th gen rear seated passengers! Maybe with pedal and steering wheel extensions... Seriously, I'm sure you're right that the specific point of impact helps determine crash test results. But, one of the cars they tested scored either a Poor or Marginal without side/curtain bags, but Good with them. So, design/placement of the interior bags is a major factor--not just point of impact. I would hope that good crash test results would be obtained no matter where along the side of the car the impact occurred. As I understand it, current tests have the impact weight centered on the driver's head, which would appear to be the most hazardous type of side impact. My contention is that better design could produce good to excellent crashworthiness--probably based upon a stronger B-pillar and better interior bags. Why should we settle for less?