NHTSA Unveils New Rollover Ratings

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Introduction

Vehicles may well be safer to drive, but they can still tip - especially SUVs. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) new, more specific rollover ratings, sport utility vehicles - long criticized for being easy to roll and among the most dangerous vehicles on the road - are, indeed, most likely to tip when tested. Of the most popular SUVs on the road, 25 of the 36 tested by NHTSA showed a 20 percent or greater tendency to tip, and one - the Ford Explorer Sport Trac -- tipped at a 34.8 percent rate. The Chrysler Pacifica fared best with a 13 percent score, which was also better than all trucks tested, and all minivans except for the Nissan Quest, which tested at a 12.1 percent rate. The Pacifica was followed by the Nissan Murano (15.1 4x4, 15.9 4x2), Honda Pilot 4x4 (15.9) and Volvo XC90 (17.9). Additional sport utility vehicles rated most likely to tip include the Mercury Mountaineer, Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Explorer. NHTSA's percentage ratings are based on the likelihood of rolling over in the result of a single vehicle crash.

Vehicles may well be safer to drive, but they can still tip - especially SUVs. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) new, more specific rollover ratings, sport utility vehicles - long criticized for being easy to roll and among the most dangerous vehicles on the road - are, indeed, most likely to tip when tested. Of the most popular SUVs on the road, 25 of the 36 tested by NHTSA showed a 20 percent or greater tendency to tip, and one - the Ford Explorer Sport Trac -- tipped at a 34.8 percent rate. The Chrysler Pacifica fared best with a 13 percent score, which was also better than all trucks tested, and all minivans except for the Nissan Quest, which tested at a 12.1 percent rate. The Pacifica was followed by the Nissan Murano (15.1 4x4, 15.9 4x2), Honda Pilot 4x4 (15.9) and Volvo XC90 (17.9). Additional sport utility vehicles rated most likely to tip include the Mercury Mountaineer, Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Explorer. NHTSA's percentage ratings are based on the likelihood of rolling over in the result of a single vehicle crash.

Passenger vehicles, trucks and minivans were also rated on a percentage basis. Among passenger vehicles, the least likely to tip, according to NHTSA, was the Mazda RX-8 (8), followed by the Acura TL (10.3) and the Mazda3 (10.5). Passenger vehicles that showed the greatest tendency to tip include the Subaru Outback, Toyota Echo, Ford Focus wagon and Chevrolet Aveo 4-door. Of trucks rated, the Chevrolet Silverado (15.9) was least likely to tip during testing, while the Toyota Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4 (19.8 4x2, 28.3 4x4) was most likely to tip - and, according to NHTSA, did tip during testing. Minivans scored better than trucks on the whole, but Toyota's Sienna - like the Tacoma for trucks - showed the greatest likelihood of tipping, at a 15.9 percent rate. Among minivans, the Nissan Quest (12.1) scored highest, followed by the Ford Freestar (14.7). By segment, the vehicles least likely to tip in the result of a single vehicle crash:

Mazda RX-8 - 8 percent
Chevrolet Silverado 4x2 extended cab - 14.9 percent
Chrysler Pacifica 4x4 and 4x2 - 13 and 14 percent
Nissan Quest -- 12.1 percent