bhp – Size doesn’t matter, or does it?

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions ‘Volvo’? I remember growing up as a kid with classmates’ mums coming by after school to pick them up in a Volvo. More often than not, I get a free ride home in the armoured personnel carrier instead of the school bus. That said, Volvos have always been choice for soccer kid mums. I mean they did come out with the SIPS technology otherwise known as Side Impact Protection System which was deemed as a major safety advancement in motoring. Of course ABS, TCS and Airbags followed soon after.

Crumple zones was another safety advancement that followed much later. When the term first surfaced, it was bewildering for me to know someone would rather crumple their car instead of shrugging off an impact in a motoring accident. Safety advancements and innovation has obviously come a long way from the 1980’s.

Renault Modus vs. Volvo 940GLE Estate

The latest car safety testing standards today has to be the Euro NCAP or European New Car Assessment Programme. One question has always intrigued me. With the emphasis on making today’s cars more fuel efficient, manufacturers have spared no expense in using lighter materials to lose weight. The category of City Cars only surfaced some 10-15 years back as manufacturers came out with the concept of small little nippy daily drives for urban traffic. Just how safe are these little buggers on the road against the iconic Volvo from the 80’s?

Fifth Gear: Size Doesn’t Matter (Crash Test)

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Size doesn’t matter, or at least in most cases. Though there aren’t that many new major advancements, manufacturers have continously seeked to make their cars safer. The latest focus in car safety today is not just about protecting occupants in an event of accidents. Some manufacturers like Honda for one is researching ways to reduce injuries caused to pedestrains. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who’s going to come out walking with flesh meets metal.