Surprisingly Secure: The 1986-1991 Mitsubishi Van

The 1989 Mitsubishi Van after its 35-mph NHTSA frontal crash take a look at.

Fast! What was the most secure van in 1989? We’re not speaking about minivans right here, simply the usual vans. When you racked your mind and thought “Did Volvo ever make a van?” earlier than realizing that no, they did not, you’ll have in all probability guessed the Volkswagen Vanagon, particularly in case you’ve seen their movies in regards to the security of their then-current (T3 era) van. Volkswagen actually put lots of engineering into, and made an enormous advertising and marketing deal about, the T3’s security.

However in case you needed the most secure van you can purchase in 1989, as measured by NHTSA entrance crash checks, your Mitsubishi vendor would have been one of the best place to look. Right now, NHTSA had crash-tested 8 vans; the three full-size vans from the Huge Three automakers, GM’s smaller Astro van, the Vanagon, and three Japanese choices. Right here they’re, ranked by danger of extreme damage for the more serious occupant. The numbers on the far proper are the HICs and chest G’s on the motive force and passenger. All autos are 1989 fashions or autos examined in earlier years the place the outcomes nonetheless apply to the 1989 model.

Mitsubishi van – 19% driver danger, 18% passenger danger – 4 D /4 P stars – 805/49 D, 713/51 P 

Nissan van – 28% driver danger, 9% passenger danger – 3 D / 5 P stars – 949/54 D, 597/36 P

Toyota van – 43% driver danger, 18% passenger danger – 2 D / 4 P stars – 1184/59 D, 530/54 P

Dodge Sportsman Van – 43% driver danger, 18% passenger danger – 2 D / 4 P stars – 983/68 D, 868/44 P

VW Vanagon – 52% driver danger, 20% passenger danger – 1 D / 4 P stars – 1320/59 D, 899/47 P

Chevy Astro – 87% driver danger, 86% passenger danger – 1 D / 1 P stars – 1849/64 D, 1838/64 P 

Ford Membership Wagon – 90% driver danger, 38% passenger danger – 1 D / 2 P stars – 1986/55 D, 1198/50 P

Chevy Sportvan – 100% driver danger, 60% passenger danger – 1 D / 1 P stars – 3665/97 D, 1452/56 P

Even in case you add within the minivans of the time, Mitsubishi nonetheless is available in a really shut second to the Plymouth Voyager van (outcomes for which apply to all 1987-1990 mannequin Chrysler minivans) which had an 18% driver danger and 13% passenger danger, with a driver HIC/Chest G of 903 and 43 and corresponding measurements of 501 and 47 for the passenger. The Aerostar did far worse, with a 66% danger for the motive force and 36% for the passenger (price 1 and a pair of stars, respectively), with dummy measurements of 1,568 HIC / 50 Chest G’s for the motive force and 1,071 HIC / 57 Chest G’s for the passenger. 

All vans of the period did higher for the motive force than they did for the passenger.. Whereas a majority of the vans afforded their passengers first rate safety, amongst conventional vans, solely Mitsubishi and Nissan fell under the values (a HIC of 1,000 and 60 Chest G’s) that might point out a chance of great accidents for the motive force. 

One thing stunning was the Japanese vans have been far and away the most secure. The Vanagon ranked solely fifth of the 8 vans, maybe a consequence of its by-then growing old design.