GM

The guvmint crash-tested the brand-new, all-new, spanking new Chevy Cobalt. (The Cavalier’s replacement).

It received 2/5 stars for side impact, driver’s side. Frontal impact gets 5 stars, but 2 is just embarassing. I know it’s a compact car, but there are plenty of safe compact cars. The Mini Cooper gets better crash ratings than that.

Even worse for domestic GM, a car built on the same platform as the Cobalt – the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, got 5 stars.

NHTSA tested 19 models from various makers and the Cobalt was the only car to receive two stars in any category. Two other cars tested in the compact class, the Scion tC and Saturn Ion received better scores. The Toyota Avalon, Volvo V70 and Mitsubishi Galant received top scores.

GM should be ashamed. And local people, who love GM, should think twice before getting a Cobalt.