Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

TESLA MODEL S

Lincoln Continental, Mercedes-Benz E-Class & Toyota Avalon Pace Large Car Crash Safety Testing

by Leave a Comment

The IIHS tests six large sedans. Three earn the institute’s highest safety grade.

2017 Lincoln Continental
Lincoln’s flagship Continental achieved the IIHS’ highest
safety rating in its first year back on the market.

The larger the vehicle the safer it is, right? Certainly, mass plays a significant role in making vehicles safer, an inescapable truth that safety cages, side-impact airbags, and rollover mitigation cannot overcome alone. Your safety, however, is also in your hands with defensive and distraction-free driving among the important factors for reducing crashes in the first place.

Six large sedans were recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an organization funded by insurance companies and related associations. Like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the IIHS routinely tests new vehicles for crashworthiness. However, IIHS testing is much more expansive, as it includes categories such as head restraints and headlight efficacy.

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winners

Three sedans notched the institute’s Top Safety Pick+ award, its highest honor. The Lincoln Continental, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Toyota Avalon finished on top. The Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Impala, and Ford Taurus missed the mark as each received only “acceptable” scores in small overlap front tests.

The IIHS assigns grades of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor in five crashworthiness categories: small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. The same grading exists in the crash avoidance & mitigation category covering front crash prevention and headlights, each with optional equipment. A grade is also assigned to child seat anchors (LATCH) ease of use.

“This group of large cars includes some with stellar ratings, but our small overlap front test remains a hurdle for some vehicles,” says David Zuby, IIHS executive vice president and chief research officer.

Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon joins two other large sedans in garnering a Top Safety Pick+ award.

The IIHS noted that the Lincoln Continental outfitted with an optional front crash prevention system earns a superior rating. Specifically, the 2017 Continental avoided a collision on IIHS’ test track in Virginia when traveling at speeds of 12 mph and 25 mph. The institute noted that the Continental’s forward collision warning system meets the NHTSA’s criteria.

The Continental also achieved top ratings for its optional LED projector headlights, available on the Reserve grade. The institute measures headlamp effectiveness on both straightaways and curves. On the other hand, Continentals outfitted with the standard high-intensity discharge (HID) lights earned a poor rating.

Like the Continental, the 2017 E-Class is all new. This model offers a standard front crash prevention system and an optional one — both achieved top grades in IIHS testing. Toyota’s Avalon rounded out the trio of top-performing models, achieving the award following modifications to its headlights in cars built after March 2017.

The Next Three: Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Impala & Ford Taurus

Finishing behind the trio of top safety recipient winners were the Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Impala, and the Ford Taurus.

Like the Avalon, the Tesla Model S underwent mid-model year safety upgrades, in this case to the driver’s safety belt. Unfortunately, the change wasn’t sufficient as the test dummy’s torso moved too far forward as before, allowing the dummy’s head to strike the steering wheel.

The Chevrolet Impala performed well in crash testing, but all available headlight options earned a poor rating. The Impala scored high with its front crash prevention system, however. As for the Taurus, this model also rated poor for its available headlights. Although the forward collision warning system meets the NHTSA’s criteria, it lacks automatic braking.

2015 Dodge Charger
Not all large sedans were tested, including this Dodge Charger.

Your Next Car

Auto Trends recommends car shoppers take safety ratings into consideration when shopping for a vehicle. Indeed, when evaluating any model, we rely on both IIHS and NHTSA scoring to round out our personal findings.

Of the six models tested by the IIHS, just three have passed through the Auto Trends press fleet rotation: the Lincoln Continental, Toyota Avalon, and the Chevrolet Impala.

See Also — Poor Minivan Crash Test Results for Three Models

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Tesla Model X Quality Woes Amplified

by 1 Comment

Tesla’s second full-production model encounters hiccups early in the rollout process.

2016 Tesla Model X.
Tesla Model X (photo copyright Tesla Motors).

The sheen is off of the Tesla Model X. The all-electric sport utility vehicle, introduced at the end of September 2015, was supposed to give Tesla a model rivaling the quality and the plaudits of the Model S sedan. Instead, what we have here is a vehicle that is falling short in the eyes of some, leading to many types of complaints from consumers.

Indeed, those complaints cover everything from the rear falcon-wing doors to the huge infotainment screen, with the former failing to open or close and the latter reportedly freezing repeatedly. These and other problems are fixable and Tesla’s service staff has responded admirably thus far.

What isn’t easily rectifiable is a design flaw. Specifically, the SUV’s distinctively constructed curved windshield distorts street lamps, headlights, and taillights at night according to Consumer Reports. As a result, drivers are finding themselves distracted and fatigued, unable to safely evaluate the distance between vehicles.

First-year quality woes are not uncommon in the auto industry. In fact, experts including Consumer Reports routinely advise people to avoid such models until the kinks are worked out. Although only a few thousand Model Xs have been built to date, the problems seem magnified, especially as customers take to the message boards to share their complaints.

Among the many complaints lodged are the following:

The third-row seat latch can become undone and fold forward in an accident. This problem has resulted in a recall of 2,700 vehicles. Tesla blames its supplier for the mistake and says the supplier will pick up the cost of the repairs, what it expects to be completed on a rolling basis over the next several weeks.

Some customers have also reported malfunctioning second-row seats, a problem that hasn’t been specifically spelled out. A discussion on the Tesla Motors message board indicates most respondents think the problem is exaggerated, although some agree larger sun visors are warranted.

Uneven sheet-metal panel gaps is another identified problem, one that has previously dogged the Model S. Some of the panel gap complaints, however, seem attributable to pre-production models what may inadvertently raise the problem quotient of this model higher than it really is.

Tesla has received praise for its AutoPilot hands-free driving capabilities, a feature that self drives the car. As long as the road line markings are clear, the SUV stays in its lane. In one report, a Model X owner said he was forced to take command of the steering wheel when the road’s shoulder ended as the SUV was not able to detect that.

Repair Your Tesla Model X

Like all manufacturers, Tesla Motors keeps people informed about all pending recalls. Service bulletins are issued to Tesla stores (dealers) and many repairs are handled at the local level. The company operates an Approved Body Shop Network, ensuring that all technicians are sufficiently trained to handle complex repairs, including aluminum welding.

All Tesla models are covered by a 4-year, 50,000-mile new vehicle warranty and an 8-year unlimited mile drivetrain and battery warranty. Annual inspections are recommended or once every 12,500 miles. Like other manufacturers, Tesla also offers extended warranty plans of 3-, 4-, and 8-years. These prepaid plans cost $1,325, $2,100, and $4,000 respectively.

Tesla Motors Considerations

In other Tesla news, the automaker claims more than 400,000 pre-orders to date for the Model 3. That’s far above the company’s expectations and the advanced orders don’t seem to be stopping. For customers desiring to order the compact sedan, a $1,000 fully refundable deposit is required. The number of pre-orders reflects global demand; American buyers who order and take delivery early, may be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit in addition to whatever state incentives may be available where you live.

Recent — The 2017 Ford Escape by the Numbers