For model year 2006, a total of 41 passenger cars, 21 sport utility vehicles, five vans, and 10 pickups will be subjected to frontal- and side-impact crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to NHTSA, when the tests are completed in the spring of 2006, consumers will have access to frontal crash-test ratings for about 83 percent of all 2006 offerings and side-impact safety information for about 69 percent of available 2006 models. The agency also will provide rollover ratings for 18 passenger cars, 25 sport utility vehicles, four vans, and nine pickups. Together with vehicles already tested, NHTSA will provide rollover safety information for approximately 81 percent of the model year 2006 U.S. passenger vehicle fleet.

"Consumers in the market for a new or used vehicle will have access to the latest in safety ratings," said Jacqueline Glassman, Acting Administrator for NHTSA. "The agency’s crash test program is a great source of impartial safety information." NHTSA performs full frontal crash tests, where vehicles are fitted with crash dummies and driven into a wall at 35 mph, and side-impact tests, where a 3,015-pound sled is driven into the side of a parked test car at 38.5 mph. Scores for crashworthiness are awarded with one to five stars, with one star for a frontal crash suggesting at least a 46 percent chance or greater of serious injury, while five stars suggests an injury risk of 10 percent or less. Ratings for the side impact test are slightly different: One star represents at least a 26 percent or greater chance of injury and five stars represents a risk of 5 percent or less. NHTSA also provides rollover ratings, combining a calculation of the vehicle’s center of gravity and its track width with the vehicle’s performance in a quick-maneuver driving test.

In some cases, when something unexpected occurs during a test, the star rating won’t necessarily change, but NHTSA will attach a “safety concern” notice to the vehicle in addition to its final rating.

2006 Vehicles Selected for NCAP Frontal, Side and/or Rollover Tests
Make, Model/ Frontal/Side/Rollover
BMW 3 Series/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Buick Lucerne/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Cadillac CTS/ Yes/Co/Co
Cadillac DTS/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Chevrolet Aveo/ Co/Yes/Co
Chevrolet Cobalt/ Co/Yes/Yes
Chevrolet Colorado/ Yes/Co/Co
Chevrolet Express Passenger 1500/ Yes/NA/Yes
Chevrolet HHR/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Chevrolet Impala/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Chevrolet Monte Carlo/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT/ Yes/N/A/Yes
Chevrolet Uplander/ Co/Co/Yes
Dodge Caliber (2007)/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Dodge Caravan-SWB/ Co/Co/Yes
Dodge Dakota Quad Cab/ Co/Yes/Co
Ford Expedition/ Co/N/A/Yes
Ford Explorer/ Yes/Yes//Yes
Ford Freestar/ Yes/Co/Co
Ford Fusion/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Honda Civic Coupe/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Honda Civic Sedan/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Honda Element/ Co/Co/Yes
Honda Odyssey/ Co/Yes/Co
Honda Pilot/ Co/Co/Yes
Honda Ridgeline/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Hummer H3/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Hyundai Accent/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Hyundai Azera/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Hyundai Sonata/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Hyundai Tucson/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Jeep Commander/ Yes/N/A/Yes
Kia Rio/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Kia Sedona/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Kia Sorento/ Co/Co/Yes
Lexus ES 330/ Yes/Co/Co
Mercedes-Benz ML-Class/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Mitsubishi Lancer/ Yes/Co/Co
Nissan Armada/ Yes/N/A/Yes
Nissan Frontier/ Co/Co/Yes
Nissan Frontier/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Nissan Murano/ Yes/Co/Co
Nissan Titan/ Co/N/A/Yes
Nissan Titan/ Yes/N/A/Yes
Nissan Xterra/ Co/Co/Yes
Pontiac G6/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Pontiac Grand Prix/ Yes/Co/Co
Saab 9-2X/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Scion xB/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Subaru B9 Tribeca/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Suzuki Grand Vitara/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Toyota 4Runner/ Yes/Co/Co
Toyota Prius/ Yes/Co/Co
Toyota RAV4/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Toyota Tacoma/ Yes/Yes/Yes
Toyota Tacoma/ Co/Co/Yes
Toyota Tundra/ Co/N/A/Yes
Toyota Tundra/ Co/Co/Yes
Volkswagen Passat/ Yes/Yes/Yes

Co = Carry-over results from previous model year. The following nine (9) SUVs will have both 4x2 and 4x4 versions tested for rollover resistance/ Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento, Nissan Armada, Nissan Xterra, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota RAV4.