Crash Testing: MINI Cooper vs Ford F150
12/16/2002 10:39 PM

Can't get the picture to post. (Cooper does look pretty good compared to the F150).

Now there's no question what would win in a head-on collesion between the two but then again the majority of accidents involve only a single car. All you have to do is look at the dummy's legs and you can get an idea of what would happen if you hit a wall in either car. The MINI had almost no intrusion which "indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well" - the F150 on the other hand had "Major collapse of the occupant compartment that left little survival space for the driver."

I'm interested in how a company could create a modern vehicle that could perform so badly on this test. Furthermore Ford had lots of space to work with to make this a safe vehicle. For BMW/MINI to do the job in 1/4 the space is what engineering is all about.

Keep in mind also this is the best selling vehicle in the US. One would think that Ford, knowing this, would have put more effort into the engineering of this truck. It gets worse; this platform is also the basis of both the Ford Expedition and to some extent the Ford Excursion. Both are marketed to be tough, safe, go anywhere SUVs and are sold as family transportation.

Why haven't we seen Dateline covering this. Why are they more interested in 5mph bumper tests - shouldn't this be front page news somewhere? There are millions F150s out there.

You can see the full crash results of the MINI Cooper here and the Ford F150 here .

The statistics were compiled by Tom Wenzel, a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in California, and Marc Ross, a physicist at the University of Michigan. The information comes form a recent article in teh New Yorker:

"The numbers are expressed in fatalities per million cars, both for drivers of particular models and for the drivers of the cars they hit."


Make/Model Type Driver Deaths Other Deaths Total
Toyota Avalon large 40 20 60
Chrysler Town & Country 31 36 67
Toyota Camry mid-size 41 29 70
Volkswagen Jetta 47 23 70
Ford Windstar minivan 37 35 72
Nissan Maxima mid-size 53 26 79
Honda Accord mid-size 54 27 82
Chevrolet Venture minivan 51 34 85
Buick Century mid-size 70 23 93
Subaru Legacy/Outback 74 24 98
Mazda 626 compact 70 29 99
Chevrolet Suburban S.U.V.46 59 105
Jeep Grand Cherokee 61 44 106
Honda Civic subcompact 84 25 109
Toyota Corolla 81 29 110
Ford Expedition S.U.V. 55 57 112
Ford Taurus mid-size 78 39 117
Nissan Altima compact 72 49 121
Mercury Marquis large 80 43 123
Lincoln Town Car large 100 47 147
Ford Explorer S.U.V. 88 60 148
Chevrolet Cavalier 146 41 186
Dodge Neon subcompact 161 39 199
Ford F-Series pickup 110 128 238


Granted on the F150 most of the "other" deaths are probably NOT in the pickup (ei smaller car strike). But still the 110 number is huge when compared to some of the little cars listed.

 

Ok now, to be fair.. Aren't there a lot more F150s out there than Avalons? Does this study take in to consiteration the ratio of cars on the road?

I know the 97-03 had safety concerns. Do you by chance have any data of the 80-94? I've always wondered how they came out.

 

Why not look at the new Ford F-150, which has the highest crash rating.vvhttps://www.ford-trucks.com/news/2004/news2004-7.html

 

It's an old story and the F150 has been totally re-designed since 2002. I bet the crash testing is different now.

I remember Dateline covering this story. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge did teribble with the roofs buckling up and door coming open. The Tundra was still intact and the door could be opened and closed. It did lose it's front wheel, but the passenger compartment was fine.

Hopefully the big 3 have gotten their act together in the past 2 years.

 

Also keep in mind the trucks pack a lot more weight

 

Deaths per million cars. The thing the study doesn't take in account are the YEARS of the vehicles involved. I would assume a 95 extended cab F150 (no small doors) is much more stable then the 99 extended quad cab.

I can see why the Merc Grand Marquis/Lincoln TC are that high, all those blue hairs driving them tend to put those cars in some pretty risky situations.

 

I personaly have crashed an 1990 F-150 at over 50 MPH at impact.

A Jeep Cherokee Cheif Rear ended a propane truck that was stoped at a R R Xing He came across my lane and I broad sided him. The roads were wet and I was doing just over 50 MPH so when I hit my brakes about 30 feet before impact all I did was slide not slowing much at all. I hit him so hard that his glass was in the back of my truck.

My Passanger and I walked away with out a scratch. The driver of the jeep went to the hospital. His cheif was Obliterated. My truck had Front end damage, Pushing the bumper to the radiator and the radiator to the water pump. The hood was bent and the finders pushed into the doors jamming one of them. None of my glass was broke other than head lights. I was Very Thankful I was in an F-150 and not my Explorer or my brothers Ranger.

This took place in Dec of 2002. The truck had 317,000 miles on it and still ran like a champ. Never had any of the engine covers off and still has oridginal cluch. I bought the salvage back from the Ins.Co. and it has been stored behind my shop since the accedent. Last week I put a battery in it and it cranked right up. I pulled it into my shop to remove the drive train, do some minor work on the motor, and put it in an 1987 F-150 Short bed I have.

My F-150s Have ALL given me great service and Protection and I will never switch to any of the competitors.

Dennis

 

The F-150 & the Excursion share no parts, 'cept maybe the Ford badge on the grill...