The 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback, specifically models manufactured after December 2005, received an overall “A” rating for side impact protection in vehicle safety assessments. This rating reflects design enhancements made to improve occupant safety during side collisions. These improvements included modifications to a door hinge bolt and the rear side panel’s crash padding. This report details the findings of a side-impact crash test conducted on a modified 2006 Mini Cooper.
The tested vehicle was equipped with standard front and rear head tubular airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags, crucial safety features contributing to the car’s performance in the side impact scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | M |
| Pelvis/leg | M |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The table above summarizes the side impact crash test ratings for the 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback. “A” denotes “Acceptable” overall performance. Within the driver and rear passenger injury measures, “G” signifies “Good” protection, and “M” indicates “Marginal” protection. Notably, the structure and safety cage of the Mini Cooper also earned an “A” rating, highlighting the vehicle’s robust construction in withstanding side impacts. The driver head protection and rear passenger head protection were both rated as “Good,” indicating effective performance of the side airbag system in safeguarding occupants’ heads.
Side impact crash test of a 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback, showing vehicle and barrier contact.
The images from the crash test provide a visual representation of the impact and the vehicle’s response. The first image captures the moment of impact between the vehicle and the barrier, illustrating the forces exerted during a side collision.
Post-crash view of a 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback with removed door, highlighting side airbags and occupant compartment integrity.
The second image, taken after the crash test with the door removed, reveals the deployment of the side airbags and the extent of damage to the occupant compartment. This view allows for an assessment of how well the airbags functioned to protect the occupants and how the vehicle structure absorbed the impact energy.
Driver-side airbag deployment in a 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback side impact crash test, protecting the driver dummy’s head.
The action shot during the test specifically demonstrates the driver’s side airbag effectively preventing the driver dummy’s head from hitting hard structures, directly contributing to the “Good” rating for driver head protection.
Rear passenger side airbag deployment in a 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback side impact crash test, showing head protection for rear passenger dummy.
Similarly, the image showing greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy’s head confirms the rear passenger side airbag’s role in head protection, aligning with the “Good” rating for rear passenger head protection.
Technical Measurements and Injury Data
The technical measurements from the crash test offer a deeper insight into the vehicle’s performance and occupant injury levels. Key metrics include occupant compartment intrusion and injury measures for both the driver and rear passenger.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side)
| Test ID | CES0607 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -12.0 |
The intrusion measurement of -12.0 cm indicates that the B-pillar was pushed inward by 12 cm relative to the driver’s seat centerline. Negative values suggest the crush stopped short of the seat centerline, reflecting a controlled deformation of the occupant compartment.
Driver Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES0607 |
| Head HIC-15 | 292 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.6 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 46 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 3.7 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.5 |
Passenger Injury Measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | CES0607 |
| Head HIC-15 | 346 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.2 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.1 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.6 |
The injury measures provide specific data points related to potential injury risk. Lower Head Injury Criterion (HIC) values are better, indicating less head trauma risk. Neck tension and compression, torso deflection, and pelvis forces are also measured to assess the level of impact forces on these body regions. While some “Marginal” ratings were recorded for driver torso and pelvis/leg, the overall “A” evaluation and “Good” ratings in critical areas like head protection demonstrate the 2006 Mini Cooper 2-door hatchback’s effective side impact safety performance, especially for models produced after the December 2005 modifications.
