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Wagons Scion xB Scion xB Safety & Crash Test Results
40 messages, Last post on Dec 06, 2008 at 1:24 PM
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| I just drove my cousin's xb and loved it and plan to trade in my 2000 beetle. However I am concerned about the lack of crash test results. so I e-mailed the NHSTA and this morning I received an e-mail from them stating that they have no plans to test the Scion xb. They explained that they cannot crash test every car so they go by the sheer volume of cars sold. I guess the Scions have not sold enough to attract the government's attention. They gave me some links to other agencies that may have tested it but none of those have tested it either and some links I was unable to open up. I am curious about the testing done in Japan. I know the Scion has everything going for it and I am anxious to get one. Yet I'm not sure I want to give up my beetle's 5 star rating and side air bags just yet as i have two teenage boys(one with a learner's permit and a lead foot). Any info anyone has would be appreciated. | |
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Here is a link to crash test results for the bB in Japan. http://www.nasva.go.jp/assess/html2002e/as115.html
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Replying to: saguaro (May 17, 2004 2:57 am) Maybe 2005 or 2006. |
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| A Scion dealer told me that the reason these are not an option on the Xb is that the tall height of the XB from the seat cushion to the roof would require a much larger air bag application than normal and perhaps a faster firing time and that Toyota opted not to go that route. They are optional on the Xa. | |
What we were told at a training meeting was that the xB is a much older design. It has been in Japan for several years and they pre-date the popularity of side air curtains. The car just was not designed for it. The xA is a brand new design and they incorporated the side curtains from the beginning.
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Replying to: cliffy1 (May 22, 2004 12:33 pm) I wonder when the xB redesign is going to be. |
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I'll take your answer on the side air curtains. Couldn't they at least put side air bags in the seats? One could be rather exposed in a side hit in an Xb.
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Replying to: mpgman (May 30, 2004 5:14 pm)
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Replying to: cliffy1 (May 31, 2004 5:09 am) In message #880 you said that the 2006 xb probably would have side and curtain airbags. We would like to buy one, and were wondering when you think we can expect the 2006 to arrive. Thanks, Niels |
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IIHS.org is the insurance industry safety institute that tests cars with more severe crash tests than the NHTSA, the federal agency. There is a three level hierarchy of testing right now: manufacturer testing, to insure compliance with 30 mph full frontal impact crash test requirments, and out of date law that requires passing without the use of seat belts (that is to say, with airbags alone); the 35 mph full frontal test with seat belts run by the NHTSA for which passing is not legally required (but where failure or low scores looks bad, hence manufacturers endeavor to get good scores); and the really severe Insurance Institute tests, which are based on modern thinking (Consumer Reports, Euro, Japanese and Australian) that an offset crash into a deformable target (similar to an offset crash between two cars) is more realistic than a full frontal crash into a solid barrier. The IIHS runs their test at 40 mph. IIHS also just started running side impact tests, but they went one further than the NHTSA - a heavier impact vehicle, at truck/suv height, with a contoured (for greater penetration) front end. While the xB and xA were not tested (and have done well in the milder NHTSA tests), 14 out of 16 other small cars failed the IIHS test miserably. It is worth Googling and reading the press release. The main thing that comes out of reading the lenghty news release is that side curtain air bags are a must have for anyone willing to plunk down the dough on a new car, regardless of the size of the car; and "size matters," small cars are going to have to be redesigned to pass the new test. In fact, the Honda Civic is currently being redesigned and given Honda's extensive safety testing facilities, should pass by the time it is released (Honda made running changes to the CR-V when it failed its initial side impact test). The Accord with side curtain air bags passes. It would be a shame for Honda to release a new generation Civic that promptly failed this new, well publicized test. Anyway, I love the xA and xB but the IIHS test is a real wake up call. Even the New Beetle with side curtain airbags got a Poor. There are two existing (dull) vehicles which pass (barely). The current Corolla, and the new Chevy Cobalt. We can only hope body structures and air bags will be upgraded on the upcoming xA to also pass the new test, and that, as recent posters have noted, that a new side curtain airbag friendly xB will be released.... |
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