Watch the difference between a good and a bad crash test

The Audi Q5 and the Dodge Journey had opposing crash test ratings in the “small overlap’’ category. iStock

By Megan Turchi @meganturchi

May 18, 2015

1 minute to read

Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) releases data on the safest new cars. The cars are ranked based on how well they protect their passengers during a crash, and on the technology they have to prevent or mitigate a severe crash.

IIHS, a nonprofit, also releases videos of these crash tests.

Below are two examples from the “small overlap’’ crash test of SUVs: one features an 2015 Audi Q5 and the other features a 2015 Dodge Journey. Can you tell which one fared better?

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The Audi received a “good’’ rating for the “small overlap’’ test, which sends the driver’s side of the car head-on into a stationary object at 40 miles per hour. According to the IIHS, the Audi received a Top Safety Pick +, the highest ranking, after engineers reinforced the front end of the car for the 2015 model.

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The IIHS wrote:

“During the crash, the driver dummy’s movement was well-controlled. The head hit the front airbag and stayed cushioned until rebound. The side curtain airbag deployed and provided enough forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.’’

The Dodge received a “poor’’ ranking for the “small overlap’’ crash test. (But did receive “good’’ scores on all of the other tests.)

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According to the IIHS, “The driver’s space was seriously compromised by intruding structure,’’ and “The side curtain airbag did not deploy, leaving the dummy’s head vulnerable to contacts with side structure and outside objects.’’