DETROIT, March 21 (Reuters) - Five out of six midsized cars earned top grades in frontal crash tests, while scores for three of the new family sedans improved over their previous models, the U.S. insurance group that conducted the tests said on Sunday.

"These results show how automakers have improved the structural designs of vehicles to protect occupants better in serious frontal crashes," Adrian Lund, the chief operating officer of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), said in a statement.

The Nissan Maxima, Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi Galant and the Acura TL and the Acura TSX all earned "good" ratings in the institute's frontal crash tests into a deformable barrier at 40 miles per hour.

Both of Honda Motor Co.'s (Tokyo:7267.T - News) Acura models and the Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo:7201.T - News) Maxima also earned "best pick" designations from the IIHS, which is funded by the insurance industry.

The only vehicle not to earn a "good" rating was Suzuki Motor Corp.'s (Tokyo:7269.T - News) Verona, rated "acceptable."

Lund said the Verona's structure held up well in the crash test. However, "the driver seat pitched forward slightly and tipped toward the door. Forces recorded on the dummy indicated the likelihood of leg injuries. This is why the Verona didn't earn the Institute's highest rating of 'good.'"

The IIHS tested the Verona twice. During the first test, the airbag only partially inflated. Suzuki discovered a manufacturing defect with the airbag inflation module, the IIHS said, and last fall Suzuki recalled nearly 8,000 Veronas in the U.S. market.

The new models of General Motors Corp.'s (NYSE:GM - News) Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s (Tokyo:7211.T - News) Galant and the Nissan Maxima all improved their scores from previous generations.

For example, the 1995 Maxima was one of the few cars the IIHS tested that year that recorded high injury measures on both legs of the test dummy, leading to a poor rating. Now the Maxima is a best pick.

"These new and redesigned midsize cars are performing much better in our offset (frontal) test, compared with just a few years ago," Lund said.

###

Back to News