2009 Chevrolet Malibu VS 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air

2009 Chevy Malibu

 That's the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's front crash of a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air. In slow motion, you can see the differences in how the new and classic cars perform in this version of the traditional frontal offset test.

The institute conducted this test to commemorate its 50th anniversary and it dramatically shows how much improvement has been made in passenger protection since the nonprofit organization opened its doors. The two cars collide in an explosion of metal, glass, and plastics.

Where the Malibu crumple zone absorbs much of the crash forces ahead of the windshield the Bel Air structure allows the lighter car to compress the passenger compartment. The impact is made worse for the Bel Air driver by the lack of airbags, head restraint and even a seat belt. As a result injuries to the neck, chest, and both legs would be likely.

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air

Consequently, the Bel Air receives a poor rating across the board. On the other hand, the modern Malibu provides good protection with a dummy movement being well controlled. Measures indicate a low risk to most body regions though a foot injury would be possible. Beyond the safety gear, advancements in vehicle engineering give the Malibu a clear advantage in this match up.

While classic cars are often considered to be rock solid this '59 demonstrates how much better today's cars are and the IIHS has played a key role in driving these advancements. In the past 50 years, the Institute has made a real impact. The roads today are safer for it.

2012 Chevrolet Suburban Review

 Today we are here with the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban, an SUV that still gives you the capability to haul close to 10,000 pounds. And up to nine people all the way to Grandma's house as long as you have to bring a few hundred bucks for gas 2012 marks your number six for the current generation suburban.

2012 Chevrolet Suburban

2012 Chevrolet Suburban Review

It still packs a pretty refined ride and plenty of room but some drivability issues are starting to show its age. If you don't need all that capability better options exist the Suburbans 5.3 liter v8 gets the job done even when you're loaded up with passengers but it takes its time a lumbering up to highway speeds. The ford expedition feels similarly modest but Lead-foot will really like cars like the Toyota sequoia whose 5.7 liter v8 feels much more potent.

None of them have the accelerator lag that plagues the suburban our test car took a half second or more sometimes to respond to the accelerator it's really annoying. Make sure you pay attention to it around town on your test drive like you'd expect in a big SUV ride quality is very good. But the steering has some gremlins to iron out there's a lot of play in the wheel especially pointed at twelve o'clock on the highway and you end up having to make a lot of Corrections.

2012 Chevrolet Suburban Interior

 Not really a good thing for an SUV that's going to be on a lot of road trips at least you'll have plenty of room on to those trips to throw all your stuff behind the third row in the suburban is about 45 cubic feet of cargo room. That's a lot of room the related Chevy Tahoe has less than 20 cubic feet if you fold all the seats down you're looking at about a hundred and forty cubic feet of maximum cargo volume. A ton of space there to the vast majority of suburban shoppers will get the 1500 version which has the 5.3 liter v8 for maximum towing capacity, and payload there's a suburban 2500 with a 6-litre v8 it gets 12 miles per gallon and combined EPA city/highway ratings which means that you really need its capability or you just really love the coffee at your local gas station.

The 1500 get some more sensible 17 miles per gallon which beats the sequoia as well as the Nissan armada and the ford expedition, but if you don't need this sort of towing capacity car-based crossover SUV cost less can hold nearly as many people and get better gas mileage. Most car-based crossover SUV get combined EPA mileage in the twenties so the most minivans which have even more maximum cargo capacity. You get the idea and if you need maximum towing capacity like this then the suburban is a viable choice but if you don't get something that isn't quite so overkill. See you again on the next post, stay tune !