2009 Saturn Sky - Safety Review and Crash Test Ratings

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The 2009 Saturn Sky has been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the results are heartening. The federal crash-testing agency subjected the Saturn Sky to its full range of tests and has awarded the Sky Saturn four out of five stars in every category. That includes four-star ratings for front driver and passenger impact protection, along with a four-star rating for side impact protection. The Saturn Sky has not, however, been tested by the other major crash-testing authority, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

In addition to respectable crash-test ratings, the 2009 Saturn Sky offers quite a few safety features, but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com note some key features offered by the competition are missing. Edmunds says "antilock disc brakes and stability control are standard equipment, as is OnStar." Unfortunately, Cars.com points out that "the big safety disappointment is the absence of side-impact airbags," which aren't even available as optional equipment though they "have proven critical in occupant safety." Kelley Blue Book is also disappointed to find that, "unlike the MX-5, the Sky doesn't offer side airbags or traction control."

One area where the Saturn Sky redeems itself is driver visibility. Reviewers at Cars.com say they are "able to see well over the hood," and the placement of the rear window "immediately behind the driver" means "the rear view with the top up isn't bad." ConsumerGuide reports "top-up rear visibility is better than in most convertibles," though they mention that the "double-hump rear deck hinders vision astern for shorter drivers."