Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Fit Safety & Crash Test Results - READ ONLY

66 messages,  Last post on Jul 25, 2008 at 1:15 PM

You are in the Hatchbacks - Archived Discussions Forum.

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hatchbacks Host for directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Car Safety, Hatchback

Messages Page 7 of 7

#61 of 66 Re: Has your Fit been Hit? [Frungy] by backy

May 13, 2008 (5:11 am)

Replying to: Frungy (May 13, 2008 12:27 am)
The airbags are not designed to deploy in a rear crash. I think the 2009 Fit is supposed to get active front headrests, which should help protect against whiplash. For the front, it depends on how fast your car was traveling when it hit the other car. I've heard that the trigger speed for deploying the front airbags is somewhere around 20 mph. Since it was a rebound, it could very well have been less than 20 mph. The airbags are called a "supplemental restraint system" for a reason. For low-speed frontal impacts, your seat belt is your primary restraint. When they need help in a more severe crash, the airbags deploy. In this case, the restraint systems did their job and protected you (except the headrests, which are not the Fit's strength). And you (and your insurance company) don't have the added expense of replacing the airbags--which can be a considerable cost. Also, when they deploy some minor injury is possible. So maybe you should be glad that the airbags did NOT deploy.

#62 of 66 Re: Has your Fit been Hit? [backy] by Frungy

May 14, 2008 (12:25 am)

Replying to: backy (May 13, 2008 5:11 am)
I suppose, but like I said, the car was totaled so nobody's replacing anything... they're scrapping the car The frontal crash was a rebound, but it still managed to crumple the front up to the engine area. The frame seemed to have done a good job spreading the force out to the sides... the front windshield didn't even crack. I guess the worst part about it is that even though it's only a month old, it still loses around 20% of its value the instant it moves off the lot.

#63 of 66 Re: Has your Fit been Hit? [Frungy] by backy

May 14, 2008 (5:12 am)

Replying to: Frungy (May 14, 2008 12:25 am)
Yep. It doesn't take much to total a small, inexpensive car these days.
 
The good news is, the driver of the car that hit you in the rear should have paid for your damages, or at minimum your insurance company could go after his/hers. Since the car was near-new you could ask for full replacement cost.

#64 of 66 Honda Fit Rear Crash Safety by greeneyes75

Jun 09, 2008 (1:57 pm)

I am absolutely in love with the Honda Fit. I love the way it looks, the gas efficiency, and the the way the seats fold up an down. The car has been advertised as having excellent safety for front passengers however the IIHS rates the Fit 'Poor' in rear crash safety tests. This is my only reservation about this car and a BIG ONE. Most of the time it will be only me in the car but I am feeling very worried at the prospect of putting anyone I love in the back seat. My question is- Has anyone here had the unfortunate experience of having a rear crash with their Fit? How did it hold up?? Because of this I'm now considering a significantly more expensive car that has excellent safety all around. I really want the Fit but I don't want to compromise safety to get it...

#65 of 66 Re: Honda Fit Rear Crash Safety [greeneyes75] by backy

Jun 09, 2008 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: greeneyes75 (Jun 09, 2008 1:57 pm)
Keep in mind the IIHS rear crash test is a test only of the front seat and how it protects that occupant (head and neck) in a rear crash. The actual vehicle is not used in the test. Instead, the seat (driver's seat I think) is mounted on a test platform and then there's a simulated impact in the rear.
 
In other words, there is no way you can tell from the IIHS crash test how well the Fit would protect your loved ones riding in the back seat. The good news, is, there is quite a bit of crash "space" behind the rear seats of the fit--much more so than for some other small hatchbacks.
 
FWIW, fhe 2009 Fit will have active front headrests that move forward to better protect head and neck in a rear crash, so the IIHS rear crash test score should improve a lot for 2009.

#66 of 66 tough windshield glass! by anony_mous

Jul 25, 2008 (1:15 pm)

While passing a truck at 70mph the other day, I hit the largest rock I've ever seen hit a windshield (kicked up by the truck's tires, I guess) off my 08 Fit. Golf-ball-sized, maybe slightly larger. It struck directly below the rear-view mirror in the center of the windshield glass, seemingly headed straight for my face. The sound of the impact was incredibly loud, left my ears ringing. For a moment I feared for my safety.
 
Not only did the Fit's windshield absorb the impact without shattering, it wasn't even scratched. That must be some impressive engineering to disperse the force, and some very good tempered glass -- so I felt Honda deserved kudos here.

Messages Page 7 of 7

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement