Crash tests: IIHS tests five coupes, two get top marks

For the first time the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rated a group of two-door coupes for crash safety—the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Scion tC, and Volvo C30. (In the past IIHS has tested two-door convertibles and hatchbacks.) All five of the cars rated acceptable or better in frontal, side, and rear crash tests.

The Volvo C30 (which only comes as a two-door) and Ford Focus two-door model earned the Institute's highest Top Safety Pick award, indicating they offered Good protection to occupants in front, side, and rear collisions, and offer electronic stability control. The Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cobalt coupes rated just behind with Good front and rear crash test ratings, and Acceptable side crash ratings.

The IIHS rates cars on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. None of the two door cars had any Poor ratings.

The Scion tC ranked at the bottom of the pack. It received Acceptable ratings in front and side crashes and a Marginal rating for rear crashes. But the IIHS criticized it most for not offering electronic stability control even as an option, pointing out that the Scion appeals to younger drivers who would benefit from the added safety ESC provides.

Coupes often have different structures and sometimes other features than the related sedan equivalents. IIHS usually focuses on testing family vehicles, but felt it was time to check in on some of the most popular two-doors on the market. While the frontal offset part is largely unchanged between the two- and four-door versions, the side impact test reveals some differences. The two-door Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cobalt did not perform as well as their four-door versions. The two-door Focus actually performed better than the previously tested four-door.

Learn more about crash tests in our guide to car safety. View more than 300 crash tests performed by the IIHS in our crash test video player.

—Eric Evarts