TheDenverChannel.com










Automotive

New Vans Get High Crash-Test Ratings

UPDATED: 6:01 p.m. EST January 7, 2004

Vehicles designed to move your family around may be one of the safest ways to get from here to there.

The government has given its highest crash-test rating -- five stars -- to four 2004 minivans: the new Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna. All four earned top ratings for both the driver and front passenger in front crashes.

The results were part of the first scores released from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2004 New Car Assessment Program.

Results from all 2004 model year vans as well as other vehicle test results can be found at SaferCar.gov.

The Sienna also received five-star ratings in side testing for both the front and rear seats.

The other vans are either under review or listed as "to be tested."

The Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona also hold five-star ratings.

A five-star rating means there's a 10 percent or less chance of serious injury in a wreck.

In other testing, SUVs with the best scores include the Jeep Liberty, Acura MDX, Mitsubishi Endeavor and the Lexus RX-330.

The Nissan Maxima earned five stars among the mid-size cars, while Chrysler models earned four stars.

The car earning the lowest score among the 19 vehicles tested? The retiring Pontiac Grand Prix, with three stars.

SaferCar.gov lists crash-test results for vehicles up to the 2005 model year, as well as historical data

Gas Prices

Gas prices
Keep tabs on the latest news, and calculate the cost of a trip in our special section. More


Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter. More

You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

Knowing how to talk about your psoriasis with loved ones, coworkers, and your doctor can you help you cope. Get more advice here. More

$4,000 scholarships are available to real people just like you! More

2010 Cars

Car
A lot of familiar cars are getting a facelift for 2010, and several all-new models will soon be driving around your neighborhood. Get a sneak-peek at the newest hardware here. More

Sponsored Links

Find Your Next Car



E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters