NHTSA will start with no less than 55 vehicles: 24 passenger cars, 20 SUVs, 2 vans and 9 pickups. All vehicles are 2011 model year. NHTSA says that the results under the new tests will not be compared with the results from previous tests, due to the changed criteria.
“The vehicles we are announcing today will be the first ones tested under the Department’s tougher, more rigorous 5-star ratings program,” Transportation secretary Ray LaHood said. “This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers and will provide consumers with a great deal more safety information about the cars and trucks they want to buy.”
The results of the tests will be made available as soon as NHTSA finishes adding the numbers. The results of the new tests will be available on the NHTSA website. The list of cars to be tested under the new rules can be found here. As usual, autoevolution will inform you on how the cars perform during the tests as well.
“For over 30 years, NHTSA’s 5-star crash testing program has been the gold standard for consumers looking to buy the safest cars on the market for their families,” NHTSA administrator David Strickland added.
“Now, this great program has gotten even better by making it easier to compare the safety performance of vehicles not only in terms of crash survivability, but in terms of avoiding crashes in the first place.”
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