Q: They aren't Mini's; they're even smaller than that. I'm amazed it's even street-legal because one good bump would destroy it. For "smart" cars it sure seems stupid to make them that small. An accident would kill everyone in it.
A: In Europe, they're called Smartcars, in the United States and Canada, they're Smartfortwo cars. And actually, for their size they hold up really well in a crash, they did earn a 4-star rating front and side. The secret is: when Mercedes-Benz made the first models of them, they built a deflector frame under the thing that keeps the motor from going into the vehicle in an impact. Oh, and the whole vehicle's frame is designed to spread impact out evenly and *not* crumple. Essentially, the car's built on a rollcage, like what race-car drivers use. I hope this helps. I know, some folks wouldn't be caught dead in small cars, but they *can* be made right, to be safe in an accident. ^_^