here's how the americans do it...
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# How does NHTSA categorize vehicles?
NHTSA categorizes vehicles by vehicle class and "curb" weight. Curb weight represents the weight of a vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, coolant, and air conditioning, if so equipped. Passenger cars are further subdivided.
* Passenger cars mini (PC/Mi) (1,500-1,999 lbs. curb weight)
* Passenger cars light (PC/L) (2,000-2,499 lbs. curb weight)
* Passenger cars compact (PC/C) (2,500-2,999 lbs. curb weight)
* Passenger cars medium (PC/Me) (3,000-3,499 lbs. curb weight)
* Passenger cars heavy (PC/H) (3,500 lbs. and over curb weight.)
* Sport utility vehicles (SUV)
* Pickup trucks (PU)
* Vans (VAN)
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# Can I compare vehicles from different classes?
Side crash rating results can be compared across all classes because all vehicles are hit with the same force by the same moving barrier.
Rollover ratings can also be compared across all classes.
Frontal crash rating results can only be compared to other vehicles in the same class and whose weight is plus or minus 250 lbs of the vehicle being rated. This is so because a frontal crash rating into a fixed barrier represents a crash between two vehicles of the same weight. Examples:
* It would not be permissible to compare the frontal crash results of a 4,500 lb SUV with those of a 3,000 sedan (different classes and exceeds the weight requirement).
* It would not be permissible to compare the frontal crash results of a 3,600 lb pickup with those of a 3,400 lb van (meets the weight requirement, but different classes).
* It would be correct to compare the frontal crash results of a 3,400 lb passenger car with a 3650 lb passenger car (same class and meets the weight requirement).
that last paragraph is the same for all cars, obviously you're crashing it into a solid block, so its not representative of another vehcle anyway
