A car-vs-car crash test between a 2016 Nissan Versa and a 2015 Nissan Tsuru was recently conducted and it highlighted the significant differences in safety standards between two baseline models sold by the same manufacturer in different markets.

Head to Head Collision

The 2016 Nissan Versa is the least expensive sedan sold by Nissan in the United States, while the 2015 Nissan Tsuru is the least expensive sedan sold by Nissan in Mexico. Both cars were assessed in what's called a 50% overlap collision test where both cars were traveling at 40mph before crashing into each other.

The test was conducted by The International Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), together with the Global and Latin New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The test was part of the Global NCAP's ongoing #NoZeroStarCars campaign aiming to remove poorly performing new cars from a sale and raise safety standards in new car markets across the globe.

The Shocking Conclusion

Versa's impact protection, a full set of airbags and a deformable crash structure, means that the occupants would escape with cuts and bruises. But the Tsuru lacks airbag and the car's A-pillar deformed so badly that it entered the passenger compartment which could cause fatal injuries to its occupants. As a result, the Nissan Tsuru received 0 stars out of 5 while the Nissan Versa got four stars.

After the Nissan Tsuru earned a shocking zero-star safety rating, Nissan was forced to cease the sale of the car with immediate effect. In a report by Global NCAP, the Tsuru was involved in more than 4,000 deaths in Mexico between 2007 and 2012, and its poor safety credentials clearly contributed to this statistic.

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