Small overlap crash test: 2016 Nissan Maxima and VW Passat

"EL_ULY" (uly)
12/10/2015 at 09:44 • Filed to: crash test

Both scored: Good. Personally, the VW should have gotten a lower score from what I see. If your head makes contact with the dashboard, you’re gonna have a bad time.

videos courtesy on the IIHS YouTube Channel

DISCUSSION (25)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 09:52

One thing I notice about these is that the head is rarely caught properly by the airbag.

EL_ULY > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/10/2015 at 09:55

Very true. Perhaps the bulkheads actually do shift despite better reinforcement. The A pillars don’t seem to move too bad. Still, the steering wheels are shifting too much on all tests.

BringBackTheCommodore > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:01

They both scored good, but the intrusion by the wheel into the passenger cabin seems like another challenge the automakers will have to overcome. Even the tank-like XC90 had issues with that.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:03

I’m always surprised at how much material comes off of the cars.

EL_ULY > BringBackTheCommodore
12/10/2015 at 10:09

it’s like they have to make them shatter but be strong as well

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/10/2015 at 10:10

As a parts department employee, IT’S A NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:12

I can imagine.

JeepJeremy > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:13

Thanks for the post Uly! I'm emailing this to my girlfriend. She has a Passat.

EL_ULY > JeepJeremy
12/10/2015 at 10:20

She’s in good hands according to the IIHS. I see it different but their data is what we can’t see and it is very tough to get a GOOD rating. Kuddos to VW :]

BringBackTheCommodore > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:46

Oh yes, and that would be an engineering nightmare from any perspective.

EL_ULY > BringBackTheCommodore
12/10/2015 at 10:52

Carbon fiber wheels for all!

Boxer_4 > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:52

I mentioned this in a previous post , but it appears that having the wheel shatter during the test helps the intrusion issue.

Watch the video of the Forester in slow motion if you can (.25 speed in youtube options). It’s fascinating!

BringBackTheCommodore > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 10:53

THIS! I definitely support this.

EL_ULY > Boxer_4
12/10/2015 at 10:56

Yeah I remember that. Maybe tires can be changed as well. I remember when I worked at Lexus the IS300 back in the day had an issue with the wheels bending on the most basic of pot holes. Lexus had us replace the 2 ply tires with 3 ply and it worked perfect. Also, they need find a way to make carbon fiber wheels less expensive. Maybe that material is perfect for wheels (strength and shattering capabilities)

JR1 > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 11:41

It is videos like this that remind me never DD a classic. Safety is top priority

DrScientist > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/10/2015 at 11:47

probably because of the offline nature of the hit. these small overlaps seem to throw the head right between the steering wheel bag and the side curtain.

EL_ULY > JR1
12/10/2015 at 11:48

lol yeah exactly

Boxer_4 > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 11:49

It sounds like those wheels were too ductile, allowing them to deform to easily. I’m guessing the 3-ply tires had a stronger sidewall which protected the wheels better.

I think that carbon fiber will most likely be the end solution, but I believe it will be a while before we see carbon fiber wheels on standard production cars. I think there is still a fair amount to look at with alloy wheels in this regard. At this point, I’m not sure that a lot of companies have given much thought to designing and engineering wheels as a safety item in a crash at this point.

EL_ULY > Boxer_4
12/10/2015 at 11:51

True true. Maybe somewhere in the Volvo skunkworks at their test facility they are trying some stuff out :]

Boxer_4 > EL_ULY
12/10/2015 at 11:56

I would imagine they are. I can’t imagine Subaru would be the only one looking into this.

(I’m not even sure if Subaru is looking into this, but I find it suspicious that all of their cars with alloy wheels behaved the same way in the small overlap test.)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > DrScientist
12/10/2015 at 12:26

Still, you'd think it would have been picked up on by now.

DrScientist > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/10/2015 at 12:28

there was some horrible sylvester stallone movie set in the future... where he gets in an accident and the entire cockpit fills with some kind of instant freeze foam. i think that’s where we’re headed.

pip bip - choose Corrour > EL_ULY
12/11/2015 at 06:32

the bonnet doesn’t seem all that secure on the VW.

EL_ULY > pip bip - choose Corrour
12/11/2015 at 09:58

lol right? It opens up like a can :]

Vimto > EL_ULY
12/17/2015 at 10:35

All I really learned from the video is how small the Maxima’s side windows are. It’s depressing.