Poor Visibility, Poor Design: Part 2
Posted on August 12, 2010
Filed Under Car Complaints
From our earlier article, we know that the Malibu from Charlotte Chevy Dealer not only has great crash safety test ratings, but the windows are large enough that you can adequately see out from them. While it is annoying that drivers have to take all this into consideration before even purchasing a vehicle and we should be able to trust the auto designers and engineers to make safe and drivable vehicles, the fact of the matter is, some consumers prefer stylish exterior finishes to safe and practical designs. Other things you need to watch out for when you are taking advantage of VW Deals is how much your windshield slopes, which can impair your vision and create blindspots. Also, check out the Ford Flex from Ford Greenfield; their headrest design has been praised by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Backseat headrests have gotten larger and larger over time. If you remember cars from the 1960s, the backseat bench seats lacked headrests and seatbelts! But they were also made of super strong steel and highway speeds were not anywhere near the high speeds they are today. Headrests are synonymous with the term head restraints and that is because that is what they are designed to do. The IIHS suggests that larger headrests were mandated to catch the head during an accident and prevent neck injuries. The IIHS says that in addition to the aforementioned Ford Flex, the Honda Civic, Saab 9-3, Subaru Impreza, Subaru Legacy, Mercury Sable, and Hyundai Entourage all have great backseat headrest designs.
Not only do you need to be cautious of the rear windshield pillars but the front windshield pillars can pose visibility impairment problems as well. These pillars are termed A-pillars, and they seem to be larger than normal on the new hybrid models; examples are the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. These new fuel efficient designs have made their front windshields incredibly aerodynamic to improve the fuel economy as much as possible! When buyers will choose a vehicle with the highest fuel economy rating, even if it is just 1-2 mpg difference, engineers are doing whatever it takes to get the best rating.
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