Does the weight of a vehicle affect its safety rating?
Keep in mind the overall safety ratings are only comparable between vehicles of a similar weight class and model year. If two vehicles with the same NHTSA full-width frontal rating crash into each other head on, but one vehicle weighs twice as much as the other, the occupants of the lighter one are eight times more likely to be killed than the occupants of the heavier vehicle. Vehicles weighing under 2300 lbs/1045 kgs earn a Poor weight class rating. Vehicles weighing between 2300 lbs/1045 kgs and 2599 lbs/1180 kgs earn a Marginal rating. Vehicles weighing between 2600 lbs/1181 kgs and 2999 lbs/1362 kgs earn an Acceptable rating, while vehicles with a weight between 3000 lbs/ 1363 kgs and 3499 lbs/1589 kgs receive a Good rating. All vehicles with a weight of 3500 lbs/1590 kgs or more are awarded an excellent weight class rating.
