IIHS study reveals deadliest vehicles

http://www.leftlanenews.com/iihs-study-reveals-deadliest-vehicles.html

April20 - 10:51 am
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A new study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists the vehicles with the highest and lowest death rates. But as the data suggests, driver habits may have as much to do with fatalities as structural safety.

While the statistics may seem to suggest the vehicles with the highest death rates are the least safe, a closer look reveals driver behavior is almost certainly the deciding factor.

Take the Infiniti G35, for example. Its death rate is just 11 per million vehicles. Compare that to the nearly identical Nissan 350Z, whose death rate is a whopping 193 per million.

The vehicle with the lowest death rate is the Chevrolet Astro — an archaic minivan that performs horrifically in IIHS frontal crash tests (pictured). Despite this, its death rate is just 7 per million, compared to the infinitely safer Chevrolet Blazer, which has the worst death rate of 232 per million.

The lesson? It's not just what — it's how you drive.

Lowest Vehicle Deaths Per Million Vehicles

Chevrolet Astro: minivan very large - 7
Infiniti G35: luxury car midsize - 11
BMW 7 Series: luxury car very large - 11
Toyota 4Runner: 4WD SUV midsize - 13
Audi A4/S4 Quattro: 4dr car midsize - 14
Mercedes E-Class: luxury car large - 14
Toyota Highlander: 4WD SUV midsize - 14
Mercedes M-Class: 4WD SUV midsize - 14
Toyota Sienna: minivan very large - 17
Honda Odyssey: minivan very large - 17
Lexus ES 330: luxury car midsize - 18
Lexus RX 330: 2WD SUV midsize - 18
Toyota Sequoia: 2WD SUV large - 18
Honda Pilot: 4WD SUV midsize - 19
BMW X5: 4WD SUV midsize - 19

Highest Vehicle Deaths Per Million Vehicles

Chevrolet Blazer: 2dr 2WD SUV midsize - 232
Acura RSX: 2dr car small - 202
Nissan 350Z: sports car midsize - 193
Kia Spectra: hatchback 4dr car small - 191
Pontiac Sunfire: 2dr car small - 179
Kia Rio: 4dr car mini - 175
Chevrolet Cavalier: 2dr car small - 171
Mitsubishi Eclipse: 2dr car small - 169
Dodge Neon: 4dr car small - 161
Pontiac Grand Am: 2dr car midsize - 160
Chevrolet Cavalier: 4dr car small - 150
Ford Mustang: sports car midsize - 150
Ford Ranger: 4WD pickup small - 150
Mazda B Series: 2WD pickup small - 147
Mitsubishi Eclipse: convertible sports car small - 146
Mitsubishi Montero: Sport 2WD SUV midsize - 146  

Well I think I'll scratch off a Blazer as a beater vehicle.  

However, those results won't keep me from buying a Acura RSX, Nissan 350Z, Mitsubishi Eclipse (1Ga GSX only) Ford Mustang, Ford Ranger or a Mitsubishi Montero (hey, I like them)