By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

With more Smart cars on US roads it makes sense that we are starting to see more pics of smashed Smarts. Most people have seen the 5th Gear Smart crash test, and the IIHS made the Smart look pretty safe, too. Still, there remain questions about how well this car can protect its occupants if it happens to tangle with a vehicle that weighs significantly more than the Smart's 1800 pounds. Evilbean42, who posts over at smartcarofamerica.com, seems very pleased with the way his Smart protected him in a wreck. But personally, if I'm involved in a accident on the freeway, I don't want to bounce around "like a ping pong ball." More partial car pics after the jump (maybe Evilbean42 should read Jen's post on car photography).

Comments

Jun 20, 2008 12:43:26 AM

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Stewart
Jun 19, 2008 6:28:10 PM

The Smart, like a lot of other micro cars is a death trap.
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That's just physics kids.
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Get hit by an Expedition, and it's all over folks.
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Sad but true...

justanothersmartowner
Jun 19, 2008 4:11:17 PM

Maybe Rob should read evilbean42's post on Smart Car of America, he didn't take the pictures as he was a few hours away from the car. Someone else took the pictures for him.....

I'd still take a Smart over a Yaris (Yawnis) anyday. But that's just me and yes I did test drive the Yaris.

Ryan
Jun 19, 2008 11:55:53 AM

Yes, it has more of a cage to protect you against larger vehicles but when it comes down to it the body of the driver was undamaged but either way I'm willing to help you find a good Yaris in similar conditions.

http://www.erepairables.com/vehicle_information/664549/2007_toyota_yaris.html

Rob
Jun 19, 2008 9:08:40 AM

Ryan, I'd much rather be in a Yaris. It did better in the IIHS crash test, has bigger crumple zones and weighs an extra 600 pounds. Oh, and it gets about the same gas mileage, too.

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=716

Ryan
Jun 19, 2008 8:18:41 AM

How about the argument that his other car might be a Toyota Yaris and he could be laying in ICU? Why not keep the argument to the same car class...

Jim
Jun 19, 2008 8:17:43 AM

I'm not so worried about the "crumpling" effect on the car, but rather how much the occupants get smacked around within the confines of the vehicle. The roof and pillars are really close to occupants' heads, so I'm willing to bet you can crack a few skulls in a real wreck.
Plus, a body shop would laugh at you if you came in with that thing- a door ding could make one of these a total loss!
-Jim

GTwildfire
Jun 19, 2008 6:55:43 AM

I'm very impressed. Seems the SMART's shell has the tenacity of a Brazil Nut.

Highspeedhijinks
Jun 19, 2008 6:09:13 AM

His other car is an 89 Caprice, I think he would have faired much better in that. The Caprice doesnt have air bags but he definitly wouldn't have bounced around or flipped or even been thanking god he's still alive. He would have been hit and he would have looked puzzled like, Did I hit a mongoose or something? and kept driving.
~
Safe car... but your going for a ride