Fit, ForTwo and Yaris perform poorly in crash tests against their mid-sized

Arlington, VA. -- Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a manufacturers micro or subcompact into a midsize model from the same manufacturer, show how large vehicle size and increased weight enhance occupant protection in collisions. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) tests are about the physics of car crashes, which dictate that very small cars generally can't protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models. "There are good reasons people buy minicars," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "They're more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests. If automakers downsize cars so their fleets use less fuel, occupant safety will be compromised.