TOM VANDERBILT ON CAR SAFETY: “I was struck by the arresting difference in these two photos, from the IIHS’ recent tests on roof strength for small SUVs. The first, the Volkswagen Tiguan, looks like as if it didn’t go through the test. The second, the Kia Sportage, looks like a safe was dropped on it from ten stories up.” Interestingly, he reports a relation between higher resale value, and lower risk to drivers, in used cars.

UPDATE: Reader Dick Thompson writes: “Be nice if you mentioned that the VW Tiguan is a rebadged Chrysler Town and Country minivan, the soccer mom’s car. Even uses a Chrysler engine.” I did not know that.

ANOTHER UPDATE: I didn’t know it because it’s not true. Reader Gary O’Neill writes: “Your reader update is almost right. The VW Routan is the rebadged Chrysler, not the Tiguan.” He’s right. And reader Pablo Gersten writes: “The Tiguan is built on the VW Golf/Audi TT/Audi Q3 platform (A5 PQ35) and made in Wolfsburg, then jacked up as a small SUV/Tall Wagon with the 4Motion AWD system (AKA Audi’s Quattro AWD system). The VW Routan is a Chrysler T&C. “