Hi all.

Great site. I've been browsing a bit and have to say I appreciate the civility and general helpfulness of the posters on this board! Very different from other automobile boards I've seen.

Anyway, on to my question. I am very close to ordering an MCS, but have one nagging worry. How would this vehicle hold up to a significant rear impact? I am concerned because I will occasionally be carrying my 16 month old daughter in the back. There is such a small crumple zone back there that I worry how this would affect a child (or anyone else for that matter) in such a situation. I know the MC/MCS performed well in front offset crash tests, but have seen nothing discussing the other end. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

since the MINI uses a derivation of BMW 3-series rear suspension, I'm guessing the structural integrity is similar. Actually, according to MINI's website, the MINI is 50% stiffer than the 3-series. I have been rear-ended at about 25mph in my 3-series, with quite little damage. The cost for repair, however, was a different story!
In general, car's rear end's are stronger than thier fronts, this is due to the "crumple zone" they incorporate in the front end. Since the MINI's crash safety is so excellent, as long as your daughter is properly fastened in her baby-seat, I would have no reservation recommending the MINI from a safety standpoint.

I think you have a good point PJ. It would be relevant for IIHS and others to incorporate Rear-crash testing into their ratings, since rear-endings are quite common in the city.

 

Great question Ryephile. You're correct that there is no rear crumple zone to speak of, but I don't think you need to be concerned.

If you hit something head on, like a brick wall, your car is going to *decelerate* very rapidly. The crumple zone absorbs some of the energy, and gives the car more time/distance to slow down. That 25 inches or so of crumple zone may not seem like much, but it can absorb enough energy that the passenger compartment safety cage will remain intact.

If you get hit from behind, than you're actually bound to *accelerate*. So your passenger compartment safety cage is required to withstand much less force than in a head-on crash. And if you get rear ended and accelerate into another car or object, than your front crumple zone is there to absorb the impact.

I feel totally safe in my MINI, and have no qualms about carting around my nieces in the rear seat.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have gone ahead with my order.

Here it is, for anyone interested:

Indi Blue/White MCS
Gray Space Cloth
Magnesium door panels
Anthracite interior trim
CWP
Sport Package
HK upgraded sound
MFSW
Auto Air and rain sensors
OBC
April delivery!

 

I don't think that there are any magic or suprising answers to this question. Bottom line is that the MINI is a very small car that has very little substance between the rear bumper and the rear seat. In a severe rear end collision, the rear passenger(s) would probably not fare as well as they would in a larger vehicle...particularly one with a trunk or other cargo area behind the rear seat (e.g., a station wagon). The MINI has a tiny rear seating area (as I'm sure you've already discovered). The NHSTA could not test the impact of a front collision on rear seat passengers due to the fact that they couldn't fit a test dummy in the rear seat. 'nuff said.

BUT, overall the MINI is a safe car and is much safer for at least front-seat passengers than other cars of comparable size. The variety of govt. crash tests performed on the car bear out that fact. I would also guess that the safest place to be if you have to be in the back seat of a MINI would be in a child safety seat.

Don't know if that was the answer that you were looking for, but it's what I think as I put my 2 small children in the rear seat for their occasional rides.

 

Welcome to MCOL and be careful out there. :smile:

 

Check out THIS POST on "the other site". More lights in the back can't hurt, and might help avoid that rear-ender.