and super easy to park, as well. got this in an email from a friend. don't know if its been posted before, but i remember hearing on here about how safe they must be. course, i guess any car would look bad after a wreck like this, but still... i like the extra cusion a REAL car gives you.
The smart cars safety rating is based in comparison to other vehicles in its class. http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.13dd5c887c7e1358fefe0a2f35a67789/?vgnextoid=b2c72d0e0c2c8110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD#iq6 This is taken directly from the governments website on frontal crash ratings "Can I compare vehicles from different classes? Side crash rating results can be compared across all classes because all vehicles are hit with the same force by the same moving barrier. Rollover ratings can also be compared across all classes. Frontal crash rating results can only be compared to other vehicles in the same class and whose weight is plus or minus 250 lbs of the vehicle being rated. This is so because a frontal crash rating into a fixed barrier represents a crash between two vehicles of the same weight. Examples: It would not be permissible to compare the frontal crash results of a 4,500 lb SUV with those of a 3,000 sedan (different classes and exceeds the weight requirement). It would not be permissible to compare the frontal crash results of a 3,600 lb pickup with those of a 3,400 lb van (meets the weight requirement, but different classes). It would be correct to compare the frontal crash results of a 3,400 lb passenger car with a 3650 lb passenger car (same class and meets the weight requirement). " http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.db847bd57e3dc1f885dfc38c35a67789/?vgnextoid=c95df2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD Oh and if you are wondering there is only one car in the mini car class currently and that is the smart car. It makes you wonder how much stuff you miss by not reading the fine print.