Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2002-04 models
Tested vehicle: 2000 Nissan Maxima GLE 4-door
The Nissan Maxima and the Infiniti I30 (renamed I35 beginning with 2002 models) were redesigned for the 2000 model year. All 2000 and later Maxima and I30/I35 models manufactured after November 1999 include structural and airbag modifications to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of a Maxima with the structural and airbag modifications in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.
The seat-mounted side airbag deployed after the frontal airbag did. The dummy's head remained inside the occupant compartment on rebound, so there was no contact between the head and side airbag.
Footwell intrusion contributed to the likelihood of injuries to both lower legs.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CF00015 |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 15 |
| Left (cm) | 26 |
| Center (cm) | 25 |
| Right (cm) | 21 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 23 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 8 |
| Right (cm) | 6 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 9 |
| Rearward (cm) | 8 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 9 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CF00015 |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 333 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 16 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 2.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 25 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.37 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 33 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force - left (kN) | 4.8 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 2.0 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 11 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 7 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 1.22 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 1.21 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 1.4 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 7.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 71 |
| Right | 121 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: All seats AHR
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
| Seat type | All seats AHR |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 85 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 70 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Fail |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 16.5 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 77 |
| Force rating | 3 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 399 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 1,571 |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.