I'd be interested to see how it performs on the IIHS moderate offset and much harder small offset frontal crash test.

 

Me too.
I looked at the Fit and CR-V to see their ratings. The Fit is rated acceptable for small overlap and good for moderate overlap. I'll cross my fingers the HR-V is rated good for both.

 

I was hoping it would rate as well as the CR-V, which was only a 4 rating overall, so to get a 5 rating overall is great!
Below are the fit, HR-V, CR-V, and HR-V competitors.

 

Outstanding......

Thanks for posting.

 

I'm not understanding the dissatisfaction. The overall rating is five stars. Risk of rollover, which received four stars, is only 15.3%.

 

Frontal crash (the most likely crash) was 4* too.

 

This is disappointing to me, I was expecting a 5 star rating.

 

Feel save on the road0

 

Pretty tough to get a 5-star rating on an SUV for rollover.
Here's some of the procedures.....

5-Star Safety Ratings Test Procedures

13. How does NHTSA perform the frontal crash test?
Crash test dummies representing an average-sized adult male and a small-sized adult female are placed in the driver and front passenger seats, respectively, and are secured with seat belts. Vehicles are crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 miles per hour (mph), which is equivalent to a head-on collision between two similar vehicles each moving at 35 mph.

Instruments measure the force of impact to each dummy’s head, neck, chest, pelvis, femur (legs), and feet. The frontal crash rating is an evaluation of injury to the head, neck, chest, and femur (legs) for the driver and right front seat passenger. Since the frontal crash test reflects a crash between two similar vehicles, only vehicles from the same weight class, plus or minus 250 pounds, can be compared when looking at frontal crash ratings.

14. How does NHTSA perform the side barrier crash test?
Crash test dummies representing an average-sized adult male and a small-sized adult female are placed in the driver and rear passenger seats (driver’s side), respectively, and are secured with seat belts. The side crash rating represents an intersection-type collision by having a 3,015-pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph into a standing vehicle. The moving barrier is covered with material that is crushable to replicate the front of a vehicle.

Instruments measure the force of impact to each dummy’s body regions. The side barrier front seat rating is an evaluation of injury to the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis for the driver and front seat passenger dummy. The side barrier rear seat rating is an evaluation of injury to the head and pelvis for the rear seat passenger (second row occupants). It is possible to compare all vehicles with each other when looking at side barrier ratings since all rated vehicles are impacted by the same-sized barrier.

15. How does NHTSA perform the new side pole crash test and how are vehicles rated?
A small-sized adult female crash test dummy is placed in the driver’s seat and is secured with a seat belt. The test vehicle, angled at 75 degrees, is then pulled sideways at 20 mph into a 25-cm diameter pole at the driver’s seating location. This test mimics a side impact crash involving a narrow, fixed object like a utility pole or tree.

Instruments measure the force of impact to the dummy’s head, chest, lower spine, abdomen, and pelvis. Unless otherwise noted, the side pole rating is an evaluation of injury to the head and pelvis for both the driver and front seat passenger. It is possible to compare all vehicles to each other when looking at side pole ratings because all rated vehicles impact the same-sized pole.

16. What other side ratings does NHTSA assign to vehicles?
NHTSA combines the driver front seat rating from the side pole test with the driver front seat rating from the side barrier test for a combined side barrier and pole front seat rating. The probabilities of injury from the front and rear seat occupants in the side barrier test and the front seat occupant in the side pole crash test are then weighted and combined to assign a side crash rating.

The side crash rating is compared to the side crash performance of an average vehicle in the fleet. A lower than average risk of injury is better; occupants in these vehicles will be less likely than average to sustain injury in side impact collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects such as trees and utility poles.

5 Stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is much less than average
4 Stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is less than average to average
3 Stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is average to greater than average
2 Stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is greater than average
1 Star = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is much greater than average
17. Why doesn’t NHTSA do rear impact crash ratings?
NHTSA’s 5-Star Ratings Program has a limited budget and must concentrate its ratings on front and side-impact crashes that are responsible for the highest percentage of deaths and serious injuries.

Comparing Vehicles Based on 5-Star Safety Ratings

18. How does NHTSA categorize vehicles?
NHTSA categorizes vehicles by class and “curb” weight. Curb weight is the weight of a vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, coolant, and air conditioning. Passenger cars are further subdivided.

Passenger cars mini (PC/Mi) (1,500–1,999 lbs.)
Passenger cars light (PC/L) (2,000–2,499 lbs.)
Passenger cars compact (PC/C) (2,500–2,999 lbs.)
Passenger cars medium (PC/Me) (3,000–3,499 lbs.)
Passenger cars heavy (PC/H) (3,500 lbs. and over )
Sport utility vehicles (SUV)
Pickup trucks (PU) Vans (VAN)
19. 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 or pole.

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 pounds of the vehicle being rated. This is because a frontal crash rating into a fixed barrier represents a crash between two vehicles of the same weight.

 

buerkletucson, thank you for all the info

 

FWIW, the NHTSA tests emphasizes the function of the airbags and seatbelts more, while the IIHS tests emphasizes structural integrity. It's most evident when you look at the sheer amount of deformity that the IIHS tests subject to the cars in the moderate offset and small offset tests.

In all honesty, the NHTSA frontal crash test is a pretty low bar. Take a look at the aftermath of their 35mph crash for the Fit:

vs. the small overlap test that the IIHS does:

Hence why I put more stock in the IIHS tests than the NHTSA tests. They tend to tell you a whole lot more because they really challenge the cars.

In other words, I wouldn't lose sleep over the HRV only getting a 4* on the NHTSA frontal crash test. There's still plenty of chances for redemption once the IIHS gets their hands on the car. And given that Honda was able to get the Fit up from a Poor to an Acceptable with just small tweaks, I fully expect the HRV to ace the full battery of IIHS tests.

 

fiatlux, thanks for the info and for pointing out the differences between the NHTSA & IIHS testing. I learn more all the time.

Do you know if the 2nd picture is of the Fit's "acceptable" or "poor" score?

 

Second picture is from the first year the IIHS did the small offset, which the Fit scored a poor on. The A-Pillar completely caved in, and there was a huge amount of cabin intrusion, especially down low:

During the crash, the dummy's head and torso barely contacted the airbag before sliding off to the left as the steering column moved to the right. The seat belt allowed the dummy to move too far forward, as is evident from the gap between the seat back and the dummy's torso, and the head hit the instrument panel.

Door hinge pillar and instrument panel intrusion was extensive and contributed to a high risk of injuries to the left hip and left lower leg and a significant risk to the left knee and right lower leg.

This one is from the current year where it received an Acceptable:

 

I think it's probably(don't know) acceptable or good. Cars are now designed to protect the passenger- almost no intrusion into the cabin with that pic.

While they may get smashed, you will be safe

 

I never looked closely at how much information the NHTSA actually makes available, such as the number of videos, pictures, and the reports of each test. The actual reports on the HR-V has yet to be posted. But the videos and photos are available on the site. For the front barrier crash test, click on test #9296 ;for the side crash tests click on test #9297 and test #9298 .

 

even 2015 subaru crosstrek XV have 4 star on frontal crash so HR-V is good then.

 

I don't know if I would make that claim. Just because two cars got the same NHTSA doesn't mean they're equally safe when you up the ante. Heck, some 4* cars have done better than 5* cars. To mix things up, the Fit got 5* yet only got an Acceptable on the small overlap test. The XV got a 4* yet got a Good on the small overlap test. The Juke got a 3*, and (deservedly so) got a Poor on the small overlap test. The Outland Sport got a 4*, and also got an Acceptable. And all these cars (really, all modern cars in general) got a Good rating on the moderate overlap test.

In other words, the results on the NHTSA full frontal crash tests aren't strictly correlated to the results of the IIHS tests, which I believe to be superior not only by testing more violent crashes, but by simulating real world scenarios. That isn't to say that the NHTSA test isn't useful, but in a crash I'd much rather be in a 4* NHTSA / Good IIHS car over a 5* NHTSA / Acceptable IIHS car. If you look at the scoring rubric for the NHTSA, you can see that the delta between what scores a 5 and what scores a 4 isn't all the big. However, if you look at the datasheets from the IIHS, the difference between a Good and an Acceptable is pretty significant.

I've said it before, but the NHTSA test just isn't all that good at predicting how cars will hold up when push comes to shove. Their full frontal 35mph test doesn't really test the structure of the car very much, and instead puts most of the focus on the way the airbags and seat belts are set up. However, in the real world, the most dangerous crashes are the offset ones, where cabin intrusion is more likely. In this day and age, with the advancements in crumple zone, advanced multi-stage airbag technology, heck even seats that move into an optimal position for an impending crash, it's usually cabin intrusion that does you in. Hence, the IIHS uses the offset tests to measure the structural integrity of the car in combination with the way the airbags, seats, and seat belts are set up. To me that's way more important than what the NHTSA does.

The Institute runs offset frontal tests instead of full-width frontal tests. In an offset crash only one side of a vehicle's front end, not the full width, hits the barrier. As a result, a smaller part of the structure has to manage the crash energy, and intrusion into the occupant compartment is more likely. An offset test is more demanding of a vehicle's structure than a full-width test, while a full-width test is more demanding of safety belts and airbags. In a full-width test, there is less crushing of the vehicle structure so the decelerations that these restraints must handle are greater. Together, the tests provide a more complete picture of frontal crashworthiness than either test by itself.

 

One report on the NHTSA ratings:

2016 Honda HR-V Achieves (Mostly) Five-Star Safety Scores

By Bengt Halvorson

The 2016 Honda HR-V has earned a five-star rating, overall, in federal New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash-testing. However its results aren’t quite top-tier.

In frontal crash testing (35 mph into a fixed barrier), the HR-V was able to achieve just four stars for both male-size occupants in the driver’s seat and female-size passengers.

The HR-V did, however, achieve top five-star results from the federal government in all aspects of side testing, including a structurally demanding side pole test.

That NCAP testing is overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

So far, that puts the HR-V, which is an entirely new small compact crossover model, a step behind the safety ratings earned by the current Honda Fit, on which the HR-V is based. The 2015 and 2016 Honda Fit earn five stars in every category of testing.

We do like the HR-V's outward visibility, as well as its widely available LaneWatch camera system that assists in seeing vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists alongside the vehicle when making a right turn.

The HR-V hasn’t been rated yet by the other organization that conducts U.S. crash testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1099721_2016-honda-hr-v-achieves-mostly-five-star-safety-scores

 

What was the crumple percentage for the head on collision test? How much space did the passenger have left after a head on collision?

 

Zero cabin intrusion, which isn't surprising considering a full frontal 35mph is a relatively light test. Very few modern cars (if any) suffer cabin intrusion in these tests.

Even the very worst car of 2011 (Nissan Versa, 3* on the full frontal) had minimal cabin intrusion. (picture number 34: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/databa...6994&existreport=Y&r_tstno=6994&existvideo=Y&v_tstno=6994&database=v&tstno=6994)

 

I'm not concerned about the safety of the HR-V, or many cars really. Safety is more of a threshold than a thing that I want the best of. If a car performs below the safety threshold, I won't consider it.

 

35mph isn't much of a test since most roads are around 50-60mph limit. Do they every test it at those speeds?

 

Coupernator, I don't think they test at that speed, but maybe someone with more knowledge on the subject will chime in.


Can someone tell me True or False?... if two cars that are both traveling at 30mph collide, does that mean the impact is actually considered 60mph?

 

False, two cars of the same size and weight colliding head on at 30mph each is equivalent to one car hitting an immovable object (e.g. a wall) at 30mph. The energy from a head-on 30mph crash is distributed evenly between the two cars, whereas the energy from hitting a wall (assuming the wall doesn't deform) is distributed solely to the one car.

 

And today we have the videos on Youtube
1000 frames per second, that's crazy!

2016 Honda HR-V Crash Test (Frontal Crash)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQp95HSrqXE


2016 Honda HR-V Crash Test (Side Crash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G5lhnjVB7E


2016 Honda HR-V Crash Test (Side Pole Crash)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg2_7NwJpr0



All those air bags are impressive.
I feel much safer with my family then in my 1996 civic coupe