The objectives of the study were to observe the interactions of the THOR 5th percentile ATD with the second-row restraint system in passenger cars undergoing frontal crash tests and to compare the responses of the THOR 5th with the Hybrid III 5th. The THOR 5th was placed in the second-row seats of 13 vehicles undergoing 48 km/h moving car-to-moving car frontal offset tests and four vehicles undergoing 56 km/h full-frontal rigid barrier tests. The frontal offset sample included seven pairs of vehicles where the Hybrid III 5th and THOR 5th were each placed in the same seat position of identical vehicles crashed in the same configuration. In the frontal barrier tests, the Hybrid III 5th and THOR 5th were placed in adjacent outboard positions of the same vehicle.

The THOR 5th appeared to display greater rotation about the shoulder belt than the Hybrid III 5th and greater forward excursion when the lap belt penetrated the abdomen. In frontal offset tests, torso flexion and frequency of lap belt penetration were greater for the THOR 5th than for the Hybrid III 5th. The improved motion and advanced sensing capabilities of the THOR 5th have highlighted the potential to advance protection for female passengers in second-row seats.