Although lauded for their environmental benefits, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that “mini-cars” do a poor job of protecting their occupants. In fact, research shows that the chance of a fatality in collisions with mid-size vehicles is almost double that of larger vehicles, and that number is tripled in single “mini-car” crashes. Although mini-cars therefore may be more environmentally friendly than other vehicles, tension exists between being safe and being “green”. It’s not easy being green……

Small cars score poorly in crash tests
Crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute Highway Safety (IIHS) on small cars reveals many small cars do not fare well.
The IIHS has given the following cars a rating of “poor”: Nissan Versa; Toyota Prius c; Hyundai Accent; Mitsubishi Mirage; Chrysler Fiat 500; and the Honda Fit.