IIHS Claims The Mazda Replaces Volvo As The Safest Automaker On The Planet

Volvos are getting more expensive, so owners can afford to pay more for insurance. Rates had to be raised to get some of that money. Boom! The IIHS comes up with new findings for their owners--the insurance industry--to use to justify higher rates. The scam is so transparent.

Are you familiar with what an actuary does? There is no scam?

The IIHS is owned by the insurance industry, thus it is a conflict of interest.

BobM - Sorry - but I never said a single thing about insurance rates - NOT AT ALL. Never even said they use this test for that purpose. THe IHS does not set insurance rates - and they could not - that would be illegal collusion. Individual insurance companies set their own rates.

What I did say is that the IHS has yet to provide data that their crash tests result result in the same level in the real world. The fact is - these tests are much like the EPA Mileage tests - they can be compared to each other - but not to the real world where conditions produce completely different results.

I have repeatedly pointed out that polls and tests like this do not actually come the conclusions that are often implied. THe next time you are driving your car INSIDE a controlled atmosphere building - accelerating your car a the specific angle used in the test - and accelerating and braking exactly as the test does - and coming into contact with an object that is of the same construction as the one they run into - and have lots of lifeless dummies in your car as well - then you have an idea of what MIGHT happen (They could stretch this to say what likely would happen). Otherwise - I see no correlation to real world accidents of a similar nature that have been investigated and compared to see similar results - and I doubt they ever will do that.

This is much like the old commercial where they show a car with its engine enclosed in a block of ice - and the car "starts" when it has XYZ oil treatment. First - it does not imply that it would not start without the treatment. Second - at 32 degrees - auto engine typically are stored at even colder temperatures in some areas and the ice would actually act as an insulation from that cold. and Third - rather than use XYZ oil treatment - a better bet would be to park you car somewhere else where the engine is not subject to being encased in ice.

Sorry, there is no scam.

Actually - it does NOT say the rating is based on actuarial data - it simply points out that every model is a top safety pick based on its Crash testing - and we have yet to see ANY statistics that show that a good rating in the IHS crash testing results in the same level in the real world. Since the IHS tests specific repeatable crash situations - that are unlikely to be exactly duplicated in the real world - we can only say that Mazda would fare well ONLY IN accidents that duplicate the IHS tests. AND Yes - this is again misleading.

Mazda is really doing well of late, I hope it continues, they seem to put a lot of effort and thought into their cars (that are sometimes unappreciated)

I credit that guy on the ad who keeps rubbing that clay model.