The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced the completion of crash test and rollover ratings for passenger cars for the 2005 model year.

All results, including previously tested model year 2005 vehicles, are available at the agency’s web site: www.safercar.gov.

The newly-tested Mitsubishi Galant, Toyota Avalon and the Volvo V70 - all with side air bags - earned the top rating of 5-stars for all seating positions in frontal and side impact crash tests. NHTSA’s consumer information program uses a one to five star rating system, with five being the highest. Star ratings reflect a vehicle’s ability to protect the driver and passenger in a crash.

In this latest group of rollover testing, all newly tested passenger cars received 4-stars for rollover. NHTSA uses a five star scale, as well as a percent chance of rollover, to rate a vehicle on its likelihood of rollover in a single-vehicle crash.

New 2005 ratings for frontal impact are available for the Buick Lacrosse four-door, Chevrolet Cobalt four-door, Chevrolet Malibu four-door, Ford Mustang two-door, Nissan Maxima four-door, Suzuki Verona four-door, Toyota Avalon four-door, Toyota Camry four-door, and the Volkswagen new Jetta four-door.

New 2005 ratings for side impact are available for the Buick Lacrosse four-door, Chevrolet Cobalt four-door, Chevrolet Malibu four-door, Ford Mustang two-door, Honda Accord two-door, Honda Accord four-door, Honda Accord Hybrid four-door, Mitsubishi Galant four-door, Pontiac G6 four-door, Saturn Ion four-door, Suzuki Verona four-door, Toyota Avalon four-door, Volkswagen new Jetta four-door and the Volvo V70 four-door.

New rollover ratings for 2005 passenger cars include the Buick Lacrosse four-door, Chevrolet Cobalt four-door, Honda Accord Hybrid four-door, Saturn Ion four-door, Scion tC two-door, Subaru Forester four-door, Suzuki Verona four-door, Toyota Avalon four-door, Volkswagen new Jetta four-door, Volvo V70 four-door and the Volvo XC70 four-door.

Model Year 2005 Passenger Cars

Complete comparative lists of passenger cars, including carryover vehicles, by weight class (heavy, medium, compact, light and mini) are available at www.safercar.gov. First select Passenger Cars and 2005 using search Option 1, and then submit “View 2005 PCs.” Scroll to the bottom of the list and use the “Select a class” dropdown box to select a weight class of passenger cars.

PC = Passenger Car
H=Heavy, 3500 lbs or greater
Me=Medium, 3000-3499 lbs
w/SAB = with side air bags
ND = No data. The instruments used to record the test data malfunctioned.
C=Compact, 2500-2999 lbs