[AutoGuide.com]

The slow-selling Fiat 500 hit another snag after NHTSA gave the compact car a three-star crash test rating, a dismal score in an era where five-star ratings are practically ubiquitous.

While the 500 got four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests, the side impact result was a poor two stars. Only the now-dead Dodge Caliber and the Ford Escape (set to be replaced after a decade in production) have achieved similar ratings. The 500′s fellow subcompact competitors like the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Chevrolet Sonic have yet to be crash tested.

The Fiat has been plagued by slow sales, with Chrysler reporting a 173-day supply for the vehicles, and three consecutive months of declining sales figures.

More: Fiat 500 Gets Three Star Crash Test Rating, Lowest Of All New Cars on Autoguide.com

 

[WLDTOPO]

Interesting. The Institute of Highway Safety gave the 2012 Fiat 500 a 5 star rating. Check it out. http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2011/10/18/n_fiat_500_crash_test.cnnmoney/

 

[NHFiat500]

Don't forget Fiat 500 earned IIHS Top Safety Pick... http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/tiny-fiat-500-earns-iihs-top-safety-pick-w-video/

 

[vdawg]

My insurance company only went up $ 35 a year over my old car. In my surprise my agent said that the increase was so small because of it's good safety rating.

 

[JFiat]

What I herd was, they had added a new test, and new crash test dummys. The new test was a side pole test(were the driver side door or the pass. door would come in contact with a pole, if it got out of control)

 

[JFiat]

And Fiat was the one of the first cars they tested it on.

 

[Kapium]

Well I can say that rear impact is good. I was rear ended going about 30 by a girl going about 70 in a Hyundai Tyburon (spelling is probably wrong but who really cares). Anyway, blew both her airbags, wrinkled her hood, smashed her front quarter panel, wrecked her front bumper and headlight. Fiat needed a new bumper. I was fine. So far, I'm impressed.

 

[freedomgli]

What a crap article. The author is obviously ignorant of the fact that NCAP raised the bar for the 2011 model year to better discriminate vehicles. (The rule actually went into effect 08/29/2011, which means it actual practice it only applies to 2012+ vehicles, with the FIAT 500 being one of the first vehicles tested under the new more stringent requirements.) This means it's much harder to get a 5 star rating in any category, let alone overall. And it also means that the NCAP ratings for the FIAT 500 absolutely must not under any circumstances be compared to a 2010 Ford Escape. It's shameful that this is what passes for automotive journalism these days. The article is totally irresponsible.

Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about vehicle safety and crash avoidance technologies. Because of the more stringent tests, ratings for 2011 and newer vehicles should not be compared to ratings for 1990-2010 models. Overall vehicle score and frontal crash ratings should ONLY be compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight.

http://www.safercar.gov/
http://www.federalregister.gov/arti...w-car-assessment-program-ncap-safety-labeling