Mustang outperforms Camaro, Challenger in crash test
While none of the three earned the institute's Top Safety Pick, which requires good or better ratings in five crashworthiness tests, the Mustang came closest.
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The Camaro fell short in one category and lacks an available front crash prevention system, also known as forward collision avoidance warning. Tests found Challenger to be "most in need of improvement."
"Given that sports cars have high crash rates, it's especially important that they offer the best occupant protection possible in a crash," said
This was the first time the institute compared these three models. Muscle cars as a group have the highest losses among passenger vehicles for crash damage repairs under collision coverage, according to data from the
"The current generation Mustang is our safest ever,"
The tests were conducted on each model powered by an 8-cylinder engine.
The only test on which Mustang fell below a "good" rating was on the small overlap frontal crash. The test replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle, an object or a utility pole. In the test, 25% of a vehicle's front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 m.p.h.
The Mustang received an acceptable rating on that test, while the Camaro was rated good.
The Challenger performed well in side impact tests, Lund said, but its structure collapsed in the small overlap front crash.
"The front wheel was forced rearward into the occupant compartment and the footwell intrusion trapped the dummy's left foot and deformed its ankle," Lund said.
The safety cage of the Camaro, which was redesigned for the 2016 model year, performed well, even better than Mustang, maintaining ample survival space for a dummy in the driver's seat.
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The Mustang received a good rating for roof strength, while the Camaro and Challenger received an "acceptable" on that factor.
In a statement,
pplicable traffic laws and maintain control of their vehicles accordingly."
A Chevrolet spokesman declined to comment on the IIHS tests.
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