2017 BMW 5 Series vs. 2016 Audi A6 – Crash Test
With improved crash protection, BMW 5 series earns top IIHS award ARLINGTON, Va. — The redesigned BMW 5 series offers good protection in a small overlap front crash, in contrast to the previous generation of the large luxury car, which didn’t hold up well during the small overlap test. The 2017 5 series qualifies for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ award, thanks to across-the-board good crashworthiness, an optional front crash prevention system with a superior rating, and available good-rated headlights. In the small overlap test of the 2017 model, the driver space was maintained well, with maximum intrusion of 5 inches at the footrest. The airbags and safety belt worked well together to control the dummy’s movement, and measures taken from the dummy indicated a low risk of any significant injuries in a real-world crash of the same severity.
In contrast, when the earlier model was tested, maximum intrusion reached 12 inches at the footrest, and the steering column was pushed back 3 inches toward the driver. Measures taken from the dummy indicated that injuries to the left lower leg would be likely in a real-world crash, with possible injuries to the left foot as well. In order to earn the 2017 Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must have good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an available front crash prevention system with an advanced or superior rating and headlights that earn an acceptable or good rating. The 2017 5 series has two different optional front crash prevention systems, both earning a superior rating. In IIHS track tests, cars equipped with each system avoided collisions at 12 mph and 25 mph. The 5 series also has two different headlight systems available. The headlights that come with the optional lighting or premium package earn a good rating, while the standard ones are rated marginal.
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Audi A6 earns 2015 Top Safety Pick+ following modifications ARLINGTON, Va. — Stellar performance in the small overlap front test earns the 2016 Audi A6 a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The large luxury car, which already had good ratings in the Institute’s other crashworthiness tests and an advanced rating for its optional front crash prevention system, was modified to improve small overlap protection. The good small overlap rating applies to A6s built after January. In the small overlap test, the driver’s space was maintained well, with maximum intrusion of 4 inches at the foot rest. The dummy’s movement was well-controlled. The head hit the front airbag and stayed there until rebound, and the side curtain airbag deployed with sufficient coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.
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Introduced in 2012, the small overlap test replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or a utility pole. Vehicles that earn a good or acceptable rating for small overlap protection and good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick. To qualify for Top Safety Pick+, vehicles must also have an available front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating. In track tests of the A6’s optional front crash prevention system, the automatic braking function reduced the vehicle’s speed by an average of 10 mph in the Institute’s lower-speed test. In the higher-speed test, it reduced impact speed by only 1 mph, not enough to earn credit. The system does get credit in the Institute’s ratings for a warning component that meets the government’s criteria for forward collision warning.
Source: Car TV / YouTube.com