The IIHS has finally announced results of the redesigned (R56) MINI. The verdict: Good. No surprises here as the previous car (with basically the same structure) also scored a “good” rating. You can see all the details below:
[ 2007 MINI Cooper ] IIHS
[ 2002-2006 MINI Cooper ] IIHS
Alternatively you can also take a look at the much more stringent Euro NCAP tests done earlier in the year here where the new MINI scored a 5 (out of 5):
[ Euro NCAP Test Results ] Euro NCAP (PDF)
Mmm, looks like the lone ‘A’ rating went from the Restraints category to the Head/Neck category… I think I like that my ’06 fairs better in the Head/Neck category since that is kind of an essential part of the body 😉
I wonder when they’ll do a new side impact test. The previous Mini didn’t do so well in that one. But I’ve heard (perhaps incorrectly) that side impacts happen a lot less often than front and rear.
But the head went through the airbag and hit the steering wheel? Geez. Is that normal? Could the airbag have had a fault?
Slightly off topic but it seems that overall BMW is falling behind in safety (at least according to IIHS tests). The new 3 series cabrio got some bad test results. And the 5 series did rather poorly in a recent test, compared to other “luxury” sedans.
<a href="http://www.iihs.org/news/2007/iihs_news_081607.pdf" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.iihs.org/news/2007/iihs_news_081607.pdf</a>
The link for the crash test images, the last link, is no good.
“But the head went through the airbag and hit the steering wheel? Geez. Is that normal? Could the airbag have had a fault?”
is there a direct link to a video? plus, i was under the impression that the 2007 had a much better crash score in the european tests than the 2002-2006? is this incorrect.
<blockquote>The link for the crash test images, the last link, is no good.</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_mini_2007/288.aspxTry this." rel="nofollow">Try this.</a>
Sorry…
<a href="http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_mini_2007/288.aspx" rel="nofollow">Try this instead.</a>
@Mini Vanilli: <a href="http://www.euroncap.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.euroncap.com</a>
Mini is listed under BMW in the manufacturers list.
Yeah it is slightly better, particularly in the pedestrian test… Which was the whole point of the high bonnet redesign…
Well I just got into a wreck with my 04MC. I hit him head one for me into his right front fender. My car was totalled but I walked away with just a cut lip