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Consumer Reports Managing Autos Editor John Linkov on a report on the safety of 2013 vehicles.
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Well if you are looking to buy a new car in a lot of people are.
You might be surprised to find that more money doesn't translate into better safety on the road.
According to crash tests done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The latest -- thirteen luxury cars on the market -- beat out beat out by mid priced family cars in fact.
Only 27% of the luxury cars tested were -- ranked good in terms of safety compare that with 72%.
For their cheaper counter parts.
-- believable here to help John -- -- managing autos editor for consumer reports John it's great to see you but I.
Have to tell you there's -- reason I -- that luxury price I wanted to be safe what's going on here.
-- what you see a lot of luxury cars is they have new safety technologies introduced pretty early.
Much before -- lesser expensive cars get them but those technologies like -- departure and crash litigation in -- assisting in in the blind spots.
They're not really gonna protect you in a crash they're -- designed to keep you out of a crash so -- new technologies are really great.
But once -- in the crash you're stuck to what's going on with with the older design possibly weren't designed -- not -- that's an issue.
I well OK that sounds a little better than I originally thought I have to say well let's work through some examples because I think that the devil's in the details here.
Some poor safety ratings for luxury cars starting with the Mercedes-Benz C class and the Audi a four which.
Hello my hand this -- that's what I have.
Right well what you see is that these cars were introduced.
Rhetoric operated two -- 92010.
Before the IHS introduce this new offset test and they were designed like woman taxes -- designed for the current -- at the time.
And do you see that you know this new test -- BI agents introduced.
Wasn't part of their protocol for designing.
And then that the problem is that they have a lot of intrusion into the foot well they're small -- so -- not know a lot of space for things ago.
In the air bags in deployed some case yeah.
Well that's just not correct yeah that's inexcusable -- it looks like look at a couple of others accurate TL and Volvo -- sixty.
Talk to write about -- us.
What you see with these his first call their larger cars are little more in the mid size side class so there's a little more space -- to formation for crush zones.
Also all of the air -- function properly -- -- -- they kept the dummy in the right spot tsunami wasn't -- around.
And that way they were able to have all the restraint systems protect that that -- -- which is all the sensors that look for damage.
-- -- let's move on to add the Acura TL and -- a Volvo S sixty.
Right well you know those -- they did they did very well -- they you know they were excellent.
It again.
Because of the size because of their positioning they were allowed to keep the dummy in the right spot one thing you want to look at -- the Honda Accord for example as well as you know this is it because -- -- They did very well as well the new -- was designed for that -- That's key because brand new vehicle.
-- and -- I think he just talked about the Honda Accord there.
What about that Toyota Camry and Prius -- hybrid what do you think of that.
Well you know what you find out what these is that they really have probably get with the the formation there's more cars for the -- -- particularly.
A lot of intrusion in the foot well a lot of parts coming back towards the driver and then with the -- -- In the not functioning at the exact right time the dummies and slide from side to side imagine being -- -- on the car and if that happens all the restraint systems are working.
You know the Prius is an older design so that probably wasn't designed this test it's surprising that the Camry was the -- design actually didn't didn't do was well.
But this is just.
Disappointing across the board so John tell me when I'm -- there aren't shopping for a car I want something that looks nice but I really have to have a car that keeps my families -- What tests should we pay attention to -- how can we find them.
Well you know what you're seeing in these is that they didn't yes they do well in this one offset test.
Bomb but overall a lot of them -- still get good scores and that's the key -- They're all these are all really controlled test apples to apples to apples -- a real -- doesn't happen like that so you don't get.
The newer car the redesign don't go for something that's been fashion for 2013.
Or you don't stylized that you doesn't thirteen you want something that's gonna have the -- -- production date.
The newest introduction that's gonna have the latest safety features but also designed for this -- as walls is on for the government's -- -- which is a side impact us as well.
Well John.
Thanks for your help tonight really appreciate it thanks for bringing -- -- that important information great stuff thank you so much happening here.
My pleasure and happy new -- -- thank Keogh.
