Midsize SUVs don’t fare well in new crash tests
Four out of seven midsize SUVs “continue to struggle’’ with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest round of crash testing.
The Hyundai Santa Fe, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, and Jeep Cherokee received “moderate’’ or “poor’’ grades in the organization’s small overlap front crash test.
Three other midsize SUVs delivered a better performance. The Jeep Wrangler 4-door received an overall “good’’ rating but only delivers “marginal’’ protection in side and rear crashes. The Wrangler was outperformed by the Ford Flex, which qualified for the IIHS “Top Safety Pick’’ rating.
IIHS’s small overlap test looks at what happens when a vehicle’s front corner strikes another vehicle or object, such as a utility pole or a tree. One quarter of the vehicle’s front end on the driver’s side must strike a rigid barrier at 40 miles per hour.
IIHS has conducted these tests since 2012, using a higher standard than head-on crash tests conducted by the government or IIHS’s moderate overlap test.
In a statement, IIHS Chief Research Officer David Zuby said, “This test presented a major challenge for manufacturers when it was introduced three years ago, and many have adapted quickly.’’
“Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep have had some successes with redesigned models, but they haven’t done much in the way of interim improvements,’’ said Zuby. “As a result, they still have many models that rate poor or marginal.’’
The 2015 Nissan Murano outperformed the six other vehicles and earned the IIHS’s highest honor, a “Top Safety Pick+’’ rating. According to the IIHS’s statement, the Murano’s driver space held up well, with as much as five inches of intrusion from the vehicle’s structure reported.
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The test also found the crash dummy’s movement was “well-controlled.’’ The front airbag and the side curtain airbag deployed, protecting the head from connecting with the side of the car or outside objects.
The Murano also improved its roof strength performance and its superior-rated optional front crash prevention system.
The worst performer in the test was the Dodge Journey, which experienced nine inches of intrusion from the vehicle’s structure reported. According to the IIHS statement, the parking brake pedal penetrated the dummy’s left lower leg. The dummy also experienced injuries to the left hip, left knee, and lower right leg.
A dummy used in the Dodge Journey’s tests experienced injuries to the leg, hip, and knee. The tests also revealed problems with the air bags.
The Journey’s air bag tests revealed more risks to occupants in a crash. The dummy’s head barely connected to the front airbag before sliding to the left side as the steering column moved the right. The side curtain airbag failed to deploy, leaving the dummy’s head vulnerable to impact from the vehicle’s structure and outside objects.
In an email to Boston.com, IIHS Senior Vice President of Communications Russ Rader said “consumers shouldn’t assume that all vehicles are created equal for safety.’’
“There are important differences,’’ said Rader. “When they’re shopping for a new vehicle, look for [vehicles] that earn Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+. These are the best overall performers for safety.’’
The last midsize SUV to be awarded IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ rating was the Toyota Highlander. The Highlander and other Top Safety Pick+ winners of 2015 can be seen here:
Safest Cars of 2015
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