Smart Car Receives Top Safety Rating

    The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety reported today that the two door Smart Car, the 2008 ForTwo, received top ratings for front and side crash tests. The "Micro Car" is the smallest car in the U.S. market. Unfortunately, the car was not given top safety pick as its whiplash test scores were lacking. The Smart Car received an "acceptable", which is the second best safety rating for whiplash.

    The test simulates a 40 mile per hour impact with a similar sized car, every future Smart Car buyer must keep in mind that these tests are static and the Smart Car will react differently to accidents with different sized vehicles. A truck will cause more damage than a compact car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the ForTwo a five star driver safety rating, but passenger protection only earned a three star rating.

    The Smart Car prices ranges from $12,000 to $17,000 and is owned by German car manufacture Daimler AG, who also produce Mercedes-Benz. This should come as a comforting fact for those contemplating purchasing a Smart Car but are concerned for about safety.