Squeezing safety into small cars

The Smart ForTwo is the smallest widely-available car you can buy.

While the two-seat minicar has yet to be officially crash-tested in the United States, it got four out of a possible five stars in a European test. At dealerships, the car's "Tridion Safety Cell" - basically, its high-strength steel skeleton - is kept on display so that salespeople can explain its benefits to customers.

Of course, the purpose of auto safety isn't to protect the auto, it's to protect the people inside. A popular YouTube video showing a last-generation ForTwo smashing into a concrete wall - and coming away surprisingly intact - proves little about safety.

With little extra crush space outside the car, the ForTwo's surprisingly roomy interior plays a major role by allowing some room for crush. Also helping - the car's engine is mounted in the rear, under the cargo compartment. That means that the ForTwo's stubby nose is all crush space.

The ForTwo's high ride-height, relative to its size, helps by improving visibility and keeping occupants' heads away from direct impacts by other cars.

The sub-compact also has front and side airbags, force-limiting seatbelts and electronic stability control, which helps drivers maintain control in emergency maneuvers. All those items are things that buyers should expect, at a bare minimum, when shopping for a small car, said the Insurance Institutes's Lund.

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