[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by cheap

Thanks for the ANCAP link, here are some interesting FAQ's

Question: If a large, heavy sedan and a small, light sedan both receive five stars and the same ANCAP scores, is the large sedan safer for the occupants than the small sedan?

Answer: It is not appropriate to compare ANCAP ratings across vehicle categories, particularly if there is a large weight difference. The reason is that in car-to-car crashes, the heavier vehicle has a theoretical advantage (due to the physics of the crash). Similarly, a higher ride height might be an advantage in a car-to-car crash. However in single vehicle crashes, such as with solid fixed objects, the weight might no longer be an advantage. So it depends on the type of crash. Also some small cars do remarkably well in crashes with larger vehicles as they have very strong passenger compartments and advanced occupant restraint systems and these features make up for the mass disadvantage.

Question: Is it better to have a small car with a 5 star rating or a medium car with a 4 star rating?

Answer: It is not appropriate to compare ANCAP ratings across vehicle categories, particularly if there is a large weight difference. The reason is that in car-to-car crashes the heavier vehicle has a theoretical advantage (due to the physics of the crash).. Similarly, a higher ride height might be an advantage in a car-to-car crash. However in single vehicle crashes, such as with solid fixed objects, the weight might no longer be an advantage. So it depends on the type of crash. Also some small cars do remarkably well in crashes with larger vehicles as they have very strong passenger compartments and advanced occupant restraint systems and these features make up for the mass disadvantage.

Question: Can ANCAP results be used to compare the relative safety of the vehicles tested?

Answer: ANCAP results can be used to compare the protection offered to occupants in the event of a severe frontal and side crashes for vehicles of similar size and weight. [B]Care must be taken when comparing results for different vehicles as only those vehicles of similar mass can be correctly compared. As a heavier vehicle will generally provide better protection in a collision with a smaller and lighter car, any result comparison should be restricted to cars of a similar class. To assist with the comparison, ANCAP publishes the kerb weight of the cars tested.

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So if you're about to have a collision. Vehicle A is a 5 Star ANCAP rated 4WD/2600Kg and vehicle B is a 5 Star ANCAP rated Focus/1300Kg, both traveling at 50kph and they're about to have an unavoidable head-on crash with each other.

Which car would rather be in, the 4WD or the Focus?

Newton's 2nd law (momentum) is such a wonderful thing.

I think those points are excellent ones and I do not see how they could be countered in that situation, except on a few counts.

One is many have posed the question that due to lesser braking, slower acceleration and decreased handling, are you more likely to be in a crash in the first place in the 4WD?

Also most automotive buyer are constrained by budget and it is more difficult to buy a large 4WD with a 5 star rating, a lot easier to buy a hatch with 5 stars. For example you have $30k, you could buy a 5 star Subaru Imprezza or a 4 star Great Wall X240, cut the budget down to $20k and you can still have a Fiesta but you would have to go for an old 3 star 4WD.

I guess my point is it is just not that simple that vehicle safety comes down to purely mass and size.