If you or someone you love is driving a small car, beware. The vast majority of small cars tested for side impact crashes in a recent study received poor ratings.

CRASH TESTS How Does Your Car Measure Up? Click here.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested 16 small cars: 14 were rated poor and none received a good rating.

The Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lander, Nissan Sentra, and Suzuki Aerio received poor ratings, but the Dodge Neon was singled out as the worst performer.

"In the Institute's side-impact crash test, a barrier, which is high off the ground and shaped like the front end of a typical SUV or pickup, strikes our test vehicle in the side at 31 miles per hour. Then we look at how well the test vehicle protected the occupants' heads," said Adrian Lund, chief operating officer of the Insurance Institute.

The Hyundai Elantra, Suzuki Forenza, Volkswagen's new Beetle and Kia Spectra earned poor ratings even with standard side air bags. While occupants were protected from head injury, structural damage was excessive.

Automakers have agreed to make side airbags universal by 2009 and they have proven to save lives.

Side airbags with head protection have reduced deaths by 45 percent in broadside crashes and these recent tests prove their effectiveness.

The Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cobalt received poor ratings when tested without optional airbags, but when tested with airbags both get an acceptable rating with front and rear dummies sustaining low trauma.

The new Chevrolet Cobalt is the top-rated small car. It offers Best Pick protection in frontal crashes.

When it's equipped with its optional side impact airbags, it's one of only two vehicles to earn an acceptable rating in the Institute's side impact crash test, and it has good head restraints for rear impact protection, according to the safety study.

How Does Your Car Measure Up? Click here.