The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently evaluated2012-year-model midsize luxury and near-luxury cars in a new smalloverlap frontal crash test. Of the 11 vehicles evaluated, onlythree earned a “good” or “acceptable” rating, with the remainingeight cars earning either “marginal” or “poor” ratings.

The new test was designed to replicate what happens when thefront corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object.With a dummy belted in the driver seat, 25 percent of the car'sfront end on the driver side would strike a five-foot-tall rigidbarrier while traveling at 40 miles per hour. Vehicle performancewas rated in three categories: structure, restraints andkinematics, in addition to dummy injury measures.

Click next to see which vehicles were rated “good,”“acceptable,” “marginal,” and “poor.”

Good: Volvo S60

The Volvo S60 was the most structurally-sound vehicle tested bythe IIHS. Reinforced upper rails and a steel cross member below theinstrument panel allowed for only a few inches of intrusion. Volvohas performed similar small overlap tests as part of its vehiclesafety development process since the late 1980s.

Good: Acura TL

If airbags deploy in side impacts, they can protect the headfrom contact with structures and objects. The Acura TL receivedgood marks because its front and side curtain airbags worked welltogether to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structuresor objects that could cause injury.

Acceptable: Infiniti G

The majority of the cars tested had a problem with too muchoccupant compartment intrusion, such as exterior vehicle partsbeing crushed into the interior. Several vehicles had high risk ofinjury for the legs and feet.

Marginal: Volkswagen CC

The Volkswagen CC was the first vehicle evaluated by the IIHS tocompletely lose its door during testing. The driver door wassheared off its hinges, which is troublesome because doors shouldremain closed during a crash to prevent passengers from beingejected from vehicles.

Marginal: Lincoln MKZ

In the Lincoln MKZ test, the dummy's head and chest completelymissed the front airbag as the steering column moved to the right.The side curtain airbag deployed but didn't extend far enoughforward to protect the dummy's head.

Marginal: Acura TSX

Many vehicles received low marks because of occupant motion. Insome cases, the dummy missed the airbags, causing potentiallyserious head injuries.

Marginal: BMW 3 Series

Other injuries caused to the dummy were due to safety beltsallowing its head and torso to move too far forward.

Poor: Lexus IS

In the Lexus IS test, the dummy's left foot was entrapped byintruding structure and its right foot was wedged beneath the brakepedal.

Poor: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

In the Mercedes C-Class test, the dummy's right foot ended upwedged beneath the brake pedal as the left front wheel was forcedrearward during the crash.

Poor: Audi A4

During the crash, the driver door on the Audi A4 opened butremained attached to the car.

Poor: Lexus ES

Luxury and near-luxury cars were the first to be subjected tothe overlap test because these models typically get advanced safetyfeatures sooner than other vehicles.