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Suzuki Aerio Wagon Safety & Crash Test Results

21 messages,  Last post on Feb 25, 2008 at 9:01 PM

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What is this discussion about? Suzuki Aerio, Car Safety, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 3

#2 of 21 Aerio gets good/best pick crash test by hpulley4

Dec 10, 2002 (8:17 am)

The same place that gave it a poor bumper rating gave it a good/best pick in the 40MPH offset crash. See www.hwysafety.org. Tons of cars get this now so it seems like all these tests are getting somewhere compared to cars just a few years ago.

#3 of 21 offset results by lngtonge18

Dec 10, 2002 (9:46 am)

Here is the direct link to the Aerio's impressive structural performance:

http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0217.htm

Excellent results. I figured those beefy A pillars would hold up well. I don't even see any distortion in them. At least Suzuki got the impact performance right.

#4 of 21 AERIO IS SAFE INSPITE OF CHEAP BUMPERS by frenchcar

Dec 10, 2002 (8:18 pm)

Thanks for the crash test results which proves my point. This is one safe small car inspite of the cheap or flimsy bumper which has little to do with safety. Check out the Hyundai Elantra. Great bumper but one of the worst safety records. The Aerio has a stiff floor pan, sturdy side pillars (A,B and C) and a roof that will support 3000 pounds. The crumple zones really work. My old 1988 SAAB 900 that I kept as a second car has a honeycomb section bumper that dates back to 1979 or earlier. I once skided on ice into a steel post at 15 miles per hour which resulted in a dent 5 inches wide by 4 inches deep and in just 10 minutes it went back into shape with only a tiny blemish mark. Great result but it is one of the most expensive bumpers to replace if ever needed. Some cars have back bars with mini shock absorbers behind them. I wish Suzuki would add side air bags or side window curtain restraints.

#5 of 21 Now Thats Impressive by smiller678

Dec 10, 2002 (11:46 pm)

The pictures of the Aerio offset crash test was impressive. I can't believe how well the car held up. There was no buckling or indentations in the A pillar. Simple impressive. It makes me feel a lot better about the safety performance of this car. Good job Suzuki!
 
Happy motoring all

#6 of 21 Safety! by gregoriusm

Jan 06, 2003 (9:18 pm)

My daughter and son-in-law just bought a 2003 Sedan on the weekend. From what I see here, it may be only about the 3rd sedan in this forum?
 
So, I've read every post from 1 to 584... whew!
 
I find it very interesting that some of the posters have said they would take a Hyundai Elantra over the Aerio because it has side-curtain airbags. That's all well and good if you get hit in the side. But, more accidents are offset front-end than side, and if you'll notice the tests of the Aerio and the Elantra on the HighwaySafety.org site, you'll find that the side of your head might be in fine shape in the Elantra, but the rest of you would be bent WAY out of shape or dead!
 
The Aerio was picked as Best of the Best. It doesn't get better than that. And when they do the NHTSA tests (not done yet for the Aerio), I'll bet it will be at least a 4 all around, if not all 5's!
 
So, if you're concerned about safety, I'd worry a lot less about ABS and side-airbags than the fact that the car crumples up (in this case, the Elantra) and YOU along with it.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for ABS and side airbags. I have ABS on my car here in the great white north. Love them and would have gotten side air bags if they were offered when I bought the car.
 
But, you'll never see me in a Hyundai Elantra - ABS or no ABS - side airbags or no side airbags.
 
I'll take the crash-worthiness of the Aerio ANY DAY!!!
 
Just a few thoughts....
 
I wish you all well!
 
... Greg

#7 of 21 Safety musings by jontyrees

Jan 07, 2003 (8:30 am)

I can't argue against the benefits of new safety devices like side-airbags, (well maybe I could - unwanted deployments, explosive force, etc), abs, awd, etc, but you'd think that cars without them are absolute deathtraps listening to some folks. We'd be better off with cars that rendered cell phones inoperable than cars with full-body airbags.
 
Airbags worry me a little - what happens when your airbag equipped 15yr old Chrysler rustbucket starts to break down? Could you hit a freeway expansion strip and BAM! airbag to the face?

#8 of 21 Suzuki's odd safety decision by lngtonge18

Mar 12, 2005 (10:40 pm)

I was checking out the side impact tests of small cars on the insurance institute's website and was completley shocked to discover that the Aerio's new standard side airbags protect only the chest. In and of itself, that isn't odd since some other cars offer the same. However, the Suzuki Forenza has standard dual chamber side airbags that protect both the head and the chest. Why would Suzuki design two totally different side airbag systems for similarly priced cars? A complete waste of money, plus it makes the Aerio look outclassed in safety by a car in its own showroom. I guess Suzuki feels Aerio owner's heads aren't as important as the Forenza owner's....

#9 of 21 Since the Forenza and Aerio are made by two different companies, by csandste

Mar 13, 2005 (2:17 pm)

my assumption is that each of these decisions is made differently. My assumption is that Suzuki may make some marketing decisions with how they want to bring in the Forenza, but that the major decisions as to product design are still in the hands of Daewoo (or its successor).

#10 of 21 csandste by lngtonge18

Mar 14, 2005 (12:45 pm)

My main point was that Suzuki added the side airbags to both cars at the same time, so I find it odd that Suzuki would allow one car to have a better side airbag design. They could have easily added the dual chamber design to the Aerio.

#11 of 21 airbags by billmchale

Mar 15, 2005 (6:47 am)

I think it is important to remember here that besides the fact the Forenza/Reno line are Suzukis in name only, they are also very different than the Aerio in the seating positions of the car. I doubt it would be a simple matter of retrofitting the Aerio with the Forenza's airbags, I suspect that they would have to be completely redesigned.
 
If the Forenza's were made by Suzuki I would be blaming them for not using the Aerio's engine in it... the Forenza's engine is not a very compelling choice in a world where most 4 cylinders have more power and better gas milage.

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