Safety?

[slugbug123]

I love my beetle and have heard everyone on here singing praises about it being safe. However, today i was told they weren't so i decided to look in to it to see if they really are safe or not(figured some people on here might be a little biased so i had to look elsewhere). Anyone else have articles for or against?

http://www.roadandtravel.com/crashra...sideimpact.htm

[Bwee]

Here are the NHTSA results. Looks pretty darn safe to me.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/3598.html


Not quite as good from the IIHS. Side impact rates as poor with them.
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=383

[Fowvay]

When the New Beetle was introduced it was the safest small car on the market.

Now of course technology has moved forward while the New Beetle isnt so new. Plus they have changed the test procedures. No longer are the side impact standards for cars but for SUVs and Trucks hitting the side of the vehicle. The reason the New Beetle recieved a poor was because the side airbags do not come up high enough to cushion the blow against the hood of a truck entering the cabin thru the side window.

Oh well... can't win em all. In real world tests the New Beetle has proven itself time and time again as an extremly safe car and I am quite happy with its safety.

Tom aka Fowvay

[AriesGuy85]

The New Beetle is still ext. safe! The prob with the IIHS side impact wasn't that the Side AIRBAG didn't extent high enough, its that the B-Pillar was designed 8years ago, it is still very strong but unfornt. the side impact test with a truck caused some chest injuries .. head etc protected well.