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Side impact structural characteristics for a front wheel drive passenger car are investigated to compare occupant compartment stiffness to that for lateral collisions that involve the suspension and A or C pillars. Moving deformable barrier crash tests are analyzed to determine stiffness at a variety of speeds. A truck-to-car crash test in which the passenger car is struck laterally at the left front is analyzed to derive the stiffness of the structure involving the suspension. For the MDB and the truck-to-car crash tests the effects of post-impact vehicle rotation is evaluated. Structural restitution is estimated quantitatively. The off-compartment lateral structural stiffness is determined to be more than twice that for the occupant compartment.