center to center head on collision, Lexus occupants with light and moderate injuries; Chevy occupants dead and critical

http://napavalleyregister.com/news/l...sgte1n4c.email

 

A+ for the RX, but very sad news for the boy in the Equinox. I don't understand how the 4-year old died if he seemingly was in his booster seat, belt on, in the back seat. Perhaps the sudden force to his chest from the belt causing internal injuries.

 

Sad to see. If that is a new Equinox I rented one a couple of weeks ago and it was so bloody terrible I literally took it back and switched for a Venza. The seating position and pedals were so uncomfortable I had to take it back, it was literally causing pain.

 

Saw this on the news this morning too. Really unfortunate. If it was really front license plate to front license plate as the authorities are saying, then the RX held up very well. The Chevy has damage all the way to the passenger cell, no engine compartment left whatsoever.

 

Seat belt sand booster seats are protective measures that reduce risk.

They are not magical shields that keep out all harm.

The human body can only take so much force, and the body of a 4 yr old can't stand up to what a grown man can take. Two heavy cars hitting head on at highway speeds will transfer a lot of energy . It takes a lot to bring two 5000 lb vehicles from 65 to 0 in literally no distance.

 

Whats the Equinox's crash test rating?

 

Recent test results in the news this morning. Compared to others, Equinox did well.

http://news.yahoo.com/most-midsize-s...9--sector.html

 

RXh also had a pretty sturdy weight advantage on the Equinox, which I am sure played a role. About 4,500 lbs for the RX to 3,800 lbs for the Equinox.

Very sad to see and read this

 

http://money.cnn.com/2014/04/08/auto...html?hpt=hp_t2

 

True, it did. But one has to remember that the IIHS and DOT crash tests are into a solid barrier at different angles/speeds....not two different vehicles impacting each other.

 

Crash tests are so confined to the specifications of the test that they cannot account for real world unpredictability. Every car now gets great ratings, but it isn't until a really scary crash where you begin to see the true top players

 

What a shame. I bet they'll find the driver of the Equinox was texting or something.

As for the Equinox, I also drove one with high hopes (I like the way they look, especially the LTZ trim) but like Mike I was really surprised by how cheap it felt...especially when compared to other new Chevy offerings.

 

As you note, the Equinox, though competent, is not one of GM's showcase vehicles.

 

well of coarse the Equinox is a rebadged Daewoo after all..

I'm not surprised it crumbled to pieces.

 

Incorrect.

The Daewoo Windstrom/Chevrolet Captiva was also built on the Theta platform, but to call the Equinox "a rebadged Daewoo" is hardly accurate. The Theta platform was around well before it was ever used for a Daewoo. The Windstrom/Captiva is a rebadged Opel Antara, as was the Pontiac Torrent. The original Equinox was also based on the same platform but was not rebadged. The current Equinox is on a stretched and revamped Theta platform...the Windstrom is no longer made.