Suzuki Sidekick Scores Low In Federal Crash Safety Test

WASHINGTON - Federal regulators say tests show that drivers of the four-door, four-wheel-drive Suzuki Sidekick are more likely than many other motorists to suffer head and chest injuries in a frontal crash, but the manufacturer says the vehicles are safe.

Tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also found that drivers of the Honda Civic four-door sedan are somewhat vulnerable to head injury. A company spokeswoman says that should change this fall, when the 1992 models are fitted with driver-side air bags.

The agency made public the results of its final round of tests on 1991 model vehicles this week.

The Sidekick's performance put it well above the point at which driver injury is considered possible, NHTSA said. Sidekick passengers also were found to be vulnerable to head injury, but chest injury for them was considered unlikely.

The Civic came in slightly above the threshold for possible driver head injury, but not for chest injury.

Head or chest injuries were found to be unlikely in the other vehicles included in the most recent testing: the Isuzu Stylus four-door sedan, Nissan Stanza four-door sedan and Nissan 300ZX two-door hatchback.

NHTSA conducts annual tests on newly designed models, driving them into fixed barriers at 35 miles per hour. This is 36 percent more severe than the 30 mph crash test cars must meet for legal sale.

1991 VEHICLE-CRASH TEST RESULTS

Here are results of tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For head injuries, scores above 1,000 mean serious or fatal injury is possible. Scores below 1,000 indicate serious injury is unlikely. For chest injuries, scores above 60 indicate injury is possible.

LIGHT CARS (2,000 to 2,499 pounds)

-- Geo Storm two-door hatchback. Head injury: driver 417, passenger 981. Chest injury: driver 47, passenger 45. -- Ford Escort two-door. Head: driver 434, passenger 450. Chest: driver 42, passenger 39. -- Isuzu Stylus four-door sedan. Head: driver 580, passenger no data. Chest: driver 57, passenger 46. -- Nissan Sentra four-door sedan. Head: driver 583, passenger 681. Chest: driver 46, passenger 45. -- Mazda Protege four-door sedan. Head: driver 779, passenger 612. Chest: driver 57, passenger 51. -- Hyundai Scoupe two-door. Head: driver 870, passenger 618. Chest: driver 45, passenger 42. -- Saturn SL2 four-door sedan. Head: driver 918, passenger 1,018. Chest: driver 44, passenger 46. -- Honda Civic four-door sedan. Head: driver 1,068, passenger 601. Chest: driver 50, passenger 47. -- Toyota Tercel four-door sedan. Head: driver 1,138, passenger 729. Chest: driver 57, passenger 51. -- Toyota Corolla two-door hatchback. Head: driver 1,238; passenger 613. Chest: driver 54; passenger no data.

COMPACT (2,500 and 2,999 pounds)

-- Chevrolet Beretta two-door. Head: driver 343, passenger 739. Chest: driver 37, passenger 35. -- Chevrolet Corsica four-door sedan. Head: driver 493, passenger 956. Chest: driver 41, passenger 44. -- Dodge Shadow four-door hatchback. Head: driver 503, passenger 457. Chest: driver 42, passenger 39. -- Nissan Stanza four-door sedan. Head: driver 546, passenger no data. Chest: driver 56, passenger no data. -- Ford Probe four-door sedan. Head: driver 550, passenger 418. Chest: driver 42, passenger 45. -- Honda Accord four-door sedan. Head: driver 750, passenger 378. Chest: driver 50, passenger 40. -- Plymouth Acclaim four-door sedan. Head: driver 762, passenger 446. Chest: driver 55, passenger 43. -- Buick Century four-door sedan. Head: driver 815, passenger 1,144. Chest: driver 47, passenger 40. -- Mitsubishi Galant four-door sedan. Head: driver 1,024, passenger 711. Chest: driver 61, passenger 53.

MEDIUM (3,000 and 3,499 pounds)

-- Ford Taurus four-door wagon. Head: driver 480, passenger 258. Chest: driver 44, passenger 38. -- Chrysler N.Y. Salon four-door sedan. Head: driver 511, passenger no data. Chest: driver 55, passenger no data. -- Honda Accord LX four-door wagon. Head: driver 562, passenger 539. Chest: driver 45, passenger 43. -- Chevrolet Camaro two-door hatchback. Head: driver 585, passenger 583. Chest: driver 39, passenger 42. -- Nissan 300ZX two-door hatchback. Head: driver 765, passenger no data. Chest: driver 54, passenger 47.

HEAVY (over 3,500 pounds)

-- Chevrolet Caprice four-door sedan. Head: driver 553, passenger 1,101. Chest: driver 54, passenger 48.

MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES

-- Ford Explorer four-door 4x4. Head: driver 903, passenger no data. Chest: driver 52, passenger no data. -- Chevrolet Blazer four-door 4x4. Head: driver 1,026, passenger 1,826. Chest: driver 71, passenger 51. -- Isuzu Rodeo four-door. Head: driver 1,254, passenger 884. Chest: driver 69, passenger 71. -- Suzuki Sidekick four-door 4x4. Head: driver 1,314, passenger 2,017. Chest: driver 74, passenger 55.

LIGHT TRUCKS

-- Toyota Pickup two-door 4x4. Head: driver 1,342, passenger 808. Chest: driver 49, passenger 50.

VANS

-- Mazda MPV. Head: driver 1,038, passenger 500. Chest: driver 58,

passenger 48. -- Toyota Previa. Head: driver 1,434, passenger 790. Chest: driver 66, passenger 47.