2007 Buick Rendezvous Safety Review
Buick Rendezvous Safety Review
Safety - 7.7 (Good)
The 2007 Buick Rendezvous doesn't provide standard side air bags (though these are available as an option), and its crash test scores are not quite up to the caliber of other vehicles in its class. However, a plus is that a sonar-based backup warning system is standard.
Accident Avoidance
The 2007 Buick Rendezvous comes with a number of accident avoidance features, including four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and halogen headlamps. The standard Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist operates while the vehicle is in reverse, using sonar to detect stationary objects within three feet of the rear bumper.
Traction control and a tire-pressure monitor are standard on the CXL and options on the base CX. "Too bad a tire-inflation monitor costs extra," says MSN, "because studies show many motorists don't check tire pressures." The CXL's head-up display puts digital gauge information on the front windshield so that the driver can focus on the road ahead. Auto Mall USA calls the head-up display "unobtrusive but clearly visible. We've found it helpful to be able to check our speed with a minimum of eye deflection. It can, of course, be turned off."
Crash Protection
Standard crash protection features include frontal driver and right-front passenger air bags with Passenger Sensing System, with the right-front passenger air bag status indicated on inside rearview mirror. The CXL adds side-impact air bags for the driver and passenger. Automobile.com notes that "[b]ase ... models receive only the frontal air bags as standard fare. Unfortunately passengers unworthy of a front seat are also unworthy of a curtain air bag. Buick has not equipped the Rendezvous with this important life-saving technology, which is a shame given the family hauling potential of the vehicle."
Standard OnStar AccidentAssist gives step-by-step guidance about what to do in the event of an accident. OnStar Advanced Automatic Crash Notification contacts an adviser in the event of crash, regardless of air bag deployment. OnStar Remote Door Unlock allows a remote adviser to unlock the doors for passengers. An optional highway emergency kit includes a first aid kit, PVC tape, cotton cloth, fuse kit, bungee cord, cotton gloves, flashlight, rain poncho, screwdriver, booster cables, pliers, and a Need Help banner.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2007 Buick Rendezvous its second highest rating ("Acceptable") in its frontal offset test. No results have been posted for side impact and rear impact tests. In government crash tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Rendezvous 3 out of 5 stars for driver safety and four out of five stars for passenger safety in its frontal crash tests. They give the Rendezvous a full 5 out of 5 stars for both front and rear side crash tests. However, the NHTSA flagged the Rendezvous with a Safety Concern in side crash tests: "During the side impact test, the driver door became unlatched and swung open. The Rendezvous is equipped with standard Automatic Door Locks (ADL). NHTSA test protocol disables ADL during testing. A General Motors test showed that the door remained closed under similar test conditions when the ADL was activated. A door opening during a side impact crash increases the likelihood of occupant ejection."
