The IIHS Crash Tests the 2009 Cooper
The IIHS recently finished its side-impact crash testing of the 2008-2009 MINI Cooper. Below is an extensive look at the testing with both exterior and interior mounted video cameras. Overall the car got an “A” or acceptable rating – not bad for a small car. However when you look closer at the ratings you’ll see the MINI got pretty much all “G” ratings (as high as it gets) except for two categories: rear passenger torso and driver leg categories.
+ MINI Cooper test results / IIHS
<p>I’ve found my torso and legs to be pretty important parts of my body…</p>
<p>Looks like fun!</p>
<p>“Not bad for a small car” isn’t accurate. Small cars are tested against other small cars:</p>
<p>“Test results can be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.”</p>
<blockquote>“Not bad for a small car†isn’t accurate. Small cars are tested against other small cars:
“Test results can be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.â€</blockquote>
<p>Umm…No. You may want to read their <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/side_test_info.html" rel="nofollow">description</a> of the testing method before saying such things. The frontal offset <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/frontal_test_info.html" rel="nofollow">test</a> uses a mass based on the vehicle tested. The side impact test uses a sled of standard dimension and mass.</p>
<p>Adam –</p>
<p>Not completely true. You CANNOT compare frontal crashes across vehicle weights, but you CAN make comparisons of the side impact test performance.</p>
<p>This is because for frontal crashes, you are testing a car crashing into a deformable, semi-rigid barrier. The car being tested is the only thing moving, so the crash energy is directly proportional to vehicle weight.</p>
<p>For side impact crash tests, all vehicles are tested against the exact same side impact test “vehicle” run at the same exact speed. So the same exact test energy is used, no matter how big/small the vehicle being tested is.</p>
<p>Doesn’t change the results that there is room for improvement for the MINI (which has a pretty strong crash performance record in the real-world), and it doesn’t change physics of a frontal crash… But I can also compare the MINI to a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee (in side impact) if I want. (Incidentally the Jeep was rated marginal.)</p>
<p>-EK</p>
<p>So…that’s after July 2008. Mine was made in April. Where does that leave me? Do I spontaneously combust?</p>
<p>9…9.5…9…10…9…And we are still awaiting scoring from the RUSSIAN judge…</p>
<p>Wasn’t trying to troll; I am very impressed with the results. :)</p>
<p>Yeah, wonder what the pre-July cars do… Why was the change made?</p>
<p>That’s interesting… changes to the SAB and still bad for the torso…</p>
<p>See EuroNcap’s test for the 07 model: <a href="http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_mini_2007/288.aspx" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_mini_2007/288.aspx</a></p>
<p>Lacks description, but should be somewhat similar…</p>
<p>Should be somewhat comparible to gen 1’s description as well: <a href="http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_mini_2002/112.aspx" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_mini_2002/112.aspx</a></p>