Okay yeah, if the car is unsafe that's a totally different thing. I'm not educated on Hyundai crash tests. I drive imports too (Subarus) and those consistently have excellent crash ratings. The new Forester is one exceptional example.

 

Some of the safest cars look the worst after a crash, because they're designed to absorb impacts, rather than passing them on to the occupants. They do this by deforming around the passenger compartment, which means a lot of sheet metal and plastic get destroyed in the process. In the end, though, wouldn't you rather walk away from a total loss of a vehicle than be hauled off in an ambulance (or worse) from your barely damaged one?

BTW, I'm not implying that Dakotas are or aren't safe. I'm just saying that the fact that a car is reduced to scrap metal in a crash doesn't mean it was junk to start with.

 

That's definitely true too. In crash test videos they always talk about how much deformation the passenger compartment experienced. The goal is to absorb the impact/direct the impact around the passenger compartment and keep the passengers safe.

 

Is Tennessee a no-fault state? Glad you are both safe though.

 

its what everyone seems to think, but sadly no.