vplaza

side impact crash test. The structure played a factor, but the other important factor for the rating was the curtain airbag and the side chest/pelvis airbag.

If the A3 uses the same type/design of bags, then hopefully, the A3 fares well.<ul><li><a href="http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2005/pr060505.htm">Clicky...</a></li></ul>

April

Keep in mind that there are alway ongoing improvements, and the Golf V upon which the A3 is based, gets and even higher rating, since it's a year newer (and possibly also because most 5 door cars are stiffer).<ul><li><a href="http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=2&amp;id2=176">klik</a></li></ul>

vplaza

They're rating how well a car would protect a pedestrian?? How odd. I guess they should put outside airbags just in case you hit someone walking on the road?

April

where it's harder to recover fully - and avoid major head injuries by requiring more space between the hood and the top of the engine/suspension struts so that if the head hits the hood, the hood will absorb the impact smoothly. The last thing they want is for someone to fall under the car though.

It's really hard to do correctly and still style a car so it looks OK.

Yes, some car makes are working on exterior airbags - but of course how do you prevent them from going off in other situations? Also, the cost of replacing airbags is causing some otherwise functional cars to be totaled.<ul><li><a href="http://csmonitor.com/2004/0419/p13s02-wmgn.html">klik</a></li></ul>

vplaza

I've just never heard of designing a car so that you can protect the pedestrians that you might hit. That just struck me as odd.

PDXA4

Insurance companies are pushing it for lower claims...