Chevrolet Spark Passes IIHS Crash Test, The Rest of Small Cars Failed

Chevrolet Spark is the only small car that passed the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Crash test.

In the latest crash test, IIHS, the safety arm of the insurance industry, performed a small overlap frontal crash wherein the front driver’s side corner of a car running at 40 miles per hour rammed a barrier. It also simulated clipping another head-on collision with a pole or a tree.

The test involved 2013 and 2014 models and among the 11 cars only Chevrolet Spark got an “acceptable” rating, therefore earning IIHS’ Top Safety Pick designation.

“We're geeked,” said Chevrolet spokeswoman Annalisa Bluhm to USA Today regarding the passing grade. She added that the Spark underwent improvements since it was introduced in the U.S. However, she clarified that it was not modified just to pass the crash test.

Chevrolet Spark is a global product that was developed by General Motors' GM Korea unit.

On the other end of the spectrum, Honda Fit, which is branded as the worst performer, along with Hyundai Accent, Fiat 500, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa and Toyota Prius C, received a “poor” rating.

The rest, including Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris, earned a “marginal” rating.

In the report released Tuesday, it was revealed that passengers aboard the tiniest vehicles on the road are highly at risk to get injured in a common and deadly type of vehicular crash.

IIHS senior vice president Joe Nolan said to USA Today, “Small, lightweight vehicles have an inherent safety disadvantage.”

However, IIHS spokesperson Russ Rader said there is no reason why those minicars can’t be redesigned to perform well in the crash tests.

He added that oftentimes, the problem is with the main shock-absorbing materials, which are overlooked or missed when an offset crash test is performed. Also, he stressed that while bigger cars have generally performed better, automakers are working in enhancing the small cars to pass crash tests.