How safe is your car?
2005
Choose the right car!
In a crash, the safety level of the car is In the first place, a car should be chosen
very often crucial for the outcome of according to results based on real-life
the accident. The risk is more than ten accidents (1) although newer or less
times as great in the least safe cars com- common models are most often not
pared with the most safe. More modern included. We therefore recommend in
cars usually have a considerably higher the second place to examine crash test
safety standard and therefore fewer results (2).
injured persons. A new small car can EuroNCAP has still not yet started
therefore be as safe or more safe than crash tests that show the car’s protective
an old midsize car, although different features in the event of a rear-end
makes and models differ greatly. collision when many whiplash injuries
occur. We therefore report tests from
Which ranking list should I use? Folksam/ National Road
There are two lists in this report Administration and IIWPG that show
based on: the protective capacity of cars against
whiplash injury to supplement the
1. Real-life accidents (Folksam) EuroNCAP-list.
Folksam’s list is based on data from
real-life accidents with collisions from
all directions. It describes the risk for Read the whole list on the next page
disability or fatal injuries.
2. Crash tests
– front and side impact Safe and environ-
(EuroNCAP) mentally friendly
– rear-end collision
(Folksam/Swedish National Road It’s now possible to find safe cars that
Administration and IIWPG). also place less of a burden on the envi-
ronment. If you would like to see a list
of cars that have a safety standard and
comply with Folksam’s environmental
requirements, see www.folksam.se
or order the brochure “Säkert och
hållbart” (only swedish version).
Let the children travel rear facing
There is a five times greater risk of small impacts, it is important to purchase an
children being killed or injured if they infant seat and a rear-facing child seat
travel in forward-facing seats instead of with high sides preferably with in-built
rear-facing. Since a small child’s head is side impact reinforcement. When the
large and heavy in relation to its body, child reaches the age of 4 or 5, it can
and its neck muscles are not so strong, start to travel forward-facing. There is
the neck and head suffer most injuries no great different in terms of safety
in violent collisions. The child should between a booster cushion and a seat
therefore sit rear-facing as long as with a backrest. Since the seat belt
possible, at least up to the age of four, systems in the car are designed for
but the longer the better. adult passengers, the child needs special
The best place for a rear-facing protective equipment up to the age of
child is in the front seat. A rear-facing about 10 to 12. It is first then that the
child seat in the front seat gives the child is old enough to use the car’s
child better leg space than if it is fitted ordinary seat belt.
in the back seat.
If the car is equipped with an air bag This is how much the risk of injury
for the front passenger seat, this must be is reduced (compared with travelling
disconnected if a person who is shorter without using a seat belt)
than 140 cm is to sit in this seat. The rear-facing child car seat 90–95 %
airbag is adapted for adults and can kill booster
or seriously injure a child. Very few cars cushion/seat with a backrest 50–60 %
are delivered today without an airbag in only seat belt (adult) 50 %
the passenger seat. It is best to let an
approved garage disconnect the air bag.
What is important
when choosing a child car seat?
Test the child seat in the car and let the
child try out the seat before you buy it.
You are always welcome to contatct us
Child restraints do not always fit all car at Folksam. We have local branches
models nor all seats. An infant seat throughout Sweden.
should have some form of impact-
absorbing material, for instance frigo- Folksam Research can be contacted
on telephone +46 8 772 74 05.
lite between the covering and the plastic
shell. Choose a rear-facing child car E-mail: [email protected]
seat that is approved for rear-facing use You can find more information about
up to 25 kg, at least in the front seat. road safety on www.folksam.se
Due to the high risk of injury in side
The Folksam list
based on real-life accidents
Superminis Small family cars
Citroen AX Audi A3 97–03
Ford Fiesta 89–95 Citroen ZX 93–98
Ford Fiesta 96–02 Fiat Tipo/Tempra 88–95
Ford KA 97– Fiat Bravo/Brava/Marea 96–01
Hyundai Accent 95–99 Ford Escort 81–90
Hyundai Atos 99–
* Ford Escort 91–01
Hyundai Pony 91–94 Ford Focus 99–05
Mitsubishi Colt/Lancer 89–92 Honda Civic 88–91
*
Mitsubishi Colt/Lancer 92–96 Honda Civic 92–95
Mitsubishi Colt/Lancer 96–03 Honda Civic 96–01
Nissan Micra 83–92 Hyundai Elantra 96–03
Nissan Micra 93–02 Mazda 323 86–90
Opel Corsa 83–92 Mazda 323 90–95
Opel Corsa 93–99 Mazda 323 96–98
Peugeot 106 92–99 Nissan Sunny 84–90
Peugeot 205 84–98 Nissan Sunny 91–95
Peugeot 206 98– Nissan Almera 95–99
Renault 5 85–90 Opel Kadett 85–91
Renault Clio 91–98 Opel Astra 92–97
Renault Twingo 94–02 Opel Astra 98–04
Seat Ibiza/Cordoba 93–99 Peugeot 309 87–93
*
Seat Ibiza/Cordoba 99– Peugeot 306 93–02
Skoda Felicia 95–01 Renault 19 89–96
Skoda Fabia 00– Renault Megane 96–03
Suzuki Swift 85–01 Seat Toledo 92–99
Toyota Yaris 99–05 Seat Toledo/Leon 99–05
VW Polo 82–94
* Skoda Octavia 97–04
VW Polo 95–02 Suzuki Baleno 95–
Best result in the size category Toyota Corolla 88–92
* Toyota Corolla 93–97
Toyota Corolla 98–02
Toyota Corolla 02–
VW Golf/Jetta 84–91
VW Golf/Vento 92–98
VW Golf/Bora 98–04
Best result in the size category
*
At least 30 % higher safety than the average car
At least 15 % higher safety than the average car
At least as safe as the average car
At most 15 % lower safety than the average car
Worse than the “orange” group
Folksam recommends cars in the green
group. For small cars, cars are recom-
mended in the blue group, preferably
those marked with an asterisk.
The safety level a car has obtained
can be compared with all other cars in
the list, regardless of size category.
Large family cars Executive cars
Audi 80/90 87–96 Audi 100 83–91
Audi A4 95–00 Audi 100 92–94
BMW 3 83–91 Audi A6 95–97
BMW 3 91–98 Audi A6 98–05
BMW 3 98–05 BMW 5 88–96
Citroen Xantia 94–01 BMW 5 97–03
Ford Sierra 83–93 Citroen XM 90–00
Ford Mondeo 93–00 Ford Mondeo 01–
Ford Mondeo 01– Ford Scorpio 85–98
Honda Accord 86–94 Mercedes 200/300 86–95
Honda Accord 94–98 Opel Omega 87–93
Hyundai Sonata 94–04 Opel Omega 94–03
Mazda 626 88–92 Peugeot 605 90–00
Mazda 626 92–97 Saab 9000 85–97
Mazda 626 98–02 Saab 9-5 98–
Mercedes 190 83–93 Toyota Camry 87–91
Mercedes C-klass 93–00 Toyota Camry 92–96
Mitsubishi Carisma 96–04 Volvo 200 74–93
Mitsubishi Galant 85–92 Volvo 700/900 82–
Mitsubishi Galant 93–96 Volvo 850 91–97
Mitsubishi Galant 97–03 Volvo S70/V70 97–00
Nissan Primera 91–96 Volvo V70 00–
Nissan Primera 97–02 Volvo S80 99–
Opel Vectra 89–95
Opel Vectra 96–02 MPVs
Peugeot 405 88–96 Chrysler Voyager 88–95
Peugeot 406 96–04 Chrysler Voyager 96–00
Renault Laguna 94–01 Ford Galaxy 96–
Saab 900 78–93 Mitsubishi Space Wagon 92–98
Saab 900 94–98 Mitsubishi Cosmos L300 88–94
Saab 9-3 98–03 Opel Zafira 99–
Toyota Carina E 92–98 Seat Alhambra 96–
Toyota Avensis 98–03 Toyota Hiace 82–95
Volvo 340 76–91 Toyota Hiace 96–
Volvo 440/460 87–96 Toyota Model F 83–90
Volvo S40/V40 96–04 Toyota Previa 91–99
Volvo S60 01– VW Caravelle 81–90
VW Passat 89–96 VW Caravelle 91–
VW Passat 97–05 VW Sharan 96–
Results from crash tests
n
tio
tio
em
em
ec
ec
ot
ot
st
st
pr
pr
sy
sy
AP
AP
h
h
id
id
C
C
as
as
sk
sk
N
N
pl
pl
ro
ro
ti-
ti-
hi
hi
Eu
Eu
An
An
Superminis Small family cars
W
Audi A2 00– ★★★★ Alfa Romeo 147 00– ★★★
Audi TT 99– ★★★★ Audi A3 03– ★★★★
Citroen C2 03– ★★★★ BMW 1-serien 04– ★★★★★
Citroen C3 02– ★★★★ BMW Z4 03– ★★★★
Daewoo Matiz 99– ★★★ Chrysler PT Cruiser 00– ★★★
Fiat Punto 93–98 ★★ Citroen C4 04– ★★★★★
Fiat Punto 99– ★★★★ Citroen Xsara 98– ★★★
Ford Ka 97– ★★★ Daewoo Lanos 98–00 ★★★
Ford Fiesta 02– ★★★★ Honda Civic 01– ★★★★
Ford Fusion 03– ★★★★ Mazda Premacy 99– ★★★
Honda Jazz 02– ★★★★ Mercedes A-klass 97–03 ★★★★
Honda Logo 99–00 ★★★ Mercedes SLK-klass 02– ★★★★
Honda S2000 99– ★★★★ Mitsubishi Space Star 98– ★★★
Hyundai Getz 03– ★★★★ Nissan Almera 00– ★★★★
Mazda 2 03– ★★★★ Nissan Almera Tino 01– ★★★★
Mazda MX-5 98– ★★★★ Opel Astra 04– ★★★★★
MG TF 03– ★★★★ Opel Meriva 03– ★★★★
Mini Cooper/One 01– ★★★★ Peugeot 307 01– ★★★★
Nissan Micra 02– ★★★★ Renault Kangoo 98– ★★★★
Opel Corsa 01– ★★★★ Renault Mégane 03– ★★★★★
Opel Tigra 05– ★★★★ Seat Altea 04– ★★★★★
Peugeot 206 98– ★★★★ Toyota Corolla 02– ★★★ ★
Renault Clio 99– ★★★★ Volkswagen Beetle 99– ★★★★
Renault Modus 04– ★★★★★ Volkswagen Golf 04– ★★★★★
Rover 25 00– ★★★
Seat Ibiza 03– ★★★★
Skoda Fabia 00– ★★★★
Smart MCC 99– ★★★
Toyota Yaris 99– ★★★★
Volkswagen Lupo 99– ★★★★
Volkswagen Polo 02– ★★★★
Anti-skid system Whiplash protection
Yes, standard or optional extra Complies with Folksam’s requirements
No Does not comply with Folksam’s requirements
Not tested
Crash test results
The above list consists of models crash-tested by
Folksam recommends cars that have
EuroNCAP. It is stated for each of these models
at least four stars in EuroNCAP, which have anti-skid systems and which comply
comply with Folksam’s whiplash with Folksam’s whiplash requirements. The
requirements and are equipped with requirement for approved whiplash protection is
anti-skid systems. The safety level of that the car seat shows a better than average result
a car in EuroNCAP can only be com- in Folksam’s/the National Road Administration’s
pared within its own size category. tests or has been assessed as “acceptable” or
“good” in IIWPG’s tests.
n
n
tio
tio
em
em
ec
ec
ot
ot
st
st
pr
pr
sy
sy
AP
AP
h
h
id
id
C
C
as
as
sk
sk
N
N
pl
pl
ro
ro
ti-
ti-
hi
hi
Eu
Eu
An
An
Large family cars Small MPVs
W
Audi A4 01– ★★★★ Honda Stream 01–03 ★★★★
BMW 3-serien 98–05 ★★★★ Opel Zafira 99– ★★★
Citroen C5 01–03 ★★★★ Renault Grand Scenic 03– ★★★★★
Citroen C5 (facelift) 04– ★★★★★ Toyota Corolla Verso Ny 04– ★★★★★
Citroen Xsara Picasso 00– ★★★★ Volkswagen Touran 03– ★★★★★
Fiat Doblò Panorama 02– ★★★
Ford Focus C-Max 03– ★★★★ Large MPVs
Ford Focus II 04– ★★★★★ Citroen C8 02– ★★★★★
Honda Accord 03– ★★★★ Fiat Ulysse 02– ★★★★★
Jaguar X-Type 01– ★★★★ Hyundai Trajet 00– ★★★
Mazda 6 02– ★★★★ Kia Carnival 01– ★★
Mercedes C-Klass 01– ★★★★★ Mitsubishi Space Wagon 99–01 ★★★
Nissan Primera 02– ★★★★ Nissan Serena 99–01 ★★★
Opel Vectra 02– ★★★★ Opel Sintra 98–99 ★★★
Peugeot 407 04– ★★★★★ Peugeot 806 97–02 ★★★
Renault Laguna 01– ★★★★★ Peugeot 807 02– ★★★★★
SAAB 9-3 03– ★★★★★ Renault Espace 03– ★★★★★
Skoda Octavia II 04– ★★★★ Toyota Picnic 97–00 ★★★★
Subaru Legacy/Outback 99– ★★★★ Toyota Previa 00– ★★★★
Toyota Avensis 03– ★★★★★
Toyota Prius 04– ★★★★★ Small off-roaders
Volkswagen Passat 01– ★★★★ Honda CR-V 02– ★★★★
Volvo S40 04– ★★★★★ Land Rover Freelander 98– ★★★
Volvo V50 04– ★★★★★ Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin 00– ★★★
Volvo S60 01– ★★★★ Nissan X-Trail 01– ★★★★
Suzuki Grand Vitara 99– ★★★
Executive cars
Audi A6 Ny 04– ★★★★★ Large off-roaders
BMW 5-serien Ny 03– ★★★★ BMW X5 00– ★★★★★
Ford Mondeo 01– ★★★★ Hyundai Santa Fe 01– ★★★★
Lexus GS 300 05– ★★★★★ Jeep Cherokee 01– ★★★★
Mercedes E-Klass 98–02 ★★★★ Kia Sorento 02– ★★★★
Mercedes E-Klass 02– ★★★★★ Land Rover Range Rover 02– ★★★★
Mercedes Vaneo 02– ★★★★ Mercedes M-Klass 98– ★★★★
Opel Signum 03– ★★★★ Opel Frontera 98–04 ★★★
Peugeot 607 00– ★★★★ Suzuki Grand Vitara XL.7 99– ★★★
Rover 75 00– ★★★★ Volkswagen Touareg 03– ★★★★★
SAAB 9-5 Sedan 98– ★★★★★ Volvo XC90 02– ★★★★★
Skoda Superb 02– ★★★★
Volvo S80 98– ★★★★
Toyota Camry 97–02 ★★★★
Whiplash protection
Anti-skid system Complies with Folksam’s requirements
Yes, standard or optional extra Does not comply with Folksam’s requirements
No Not tested
www.folksam.se
R6546 0504
