Midsize SUV Crash Tests: Most Score Poorly in Small Overlap
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released midsize SUV crash test ratings.
On the good side of things, the 2015 Nissan Murano has been rated a Top Safety Pick Plus, while the Ford Flex managed a Top Safety Pick rating.
The Jeep Wrangler four-door scored a good rating in five out of seven categories including the small overlap test, though it was not named a Top Safety Pick due to poor performance in side and rear crashes along with the lack of a fixed roof.
SEE ALSO: Small Overlap Test Switches Sides for Certain Cars
On the other end of the spectrum, the Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Cherokee and Dodge Durango all scored a marginal rating in the small overlap test and at least one poor rating in the other categories. At the bottom of the bunch is the Dodge Journey, which was rated poor in the small overlap test.
The small overlap test consists of crashing a vehicle with 25 percent of its front end overlapping a rigid barrier while moving at 40 mph.
“This test presented a major challenge for manufacturers when it was introduced three years ago, and many have adapted quickly,” says IIHS Chief Research Officer David Zuby. “Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep have had some successes with redesigned models, but they haven’t done much in the way of interim improvements. As a result, they still have many models that rate poor or marginal.”
In the top rated Murano, the IIHS measured a maximum intrusion of 5 inches at the lower door pillar. In addition, the dummy’s movement was well controlled by the airbags. In contrast, the Dodge Journey had a full 9 inches of intrusion at the instrument panel and parking brake, which tore through the dummy’s lower left leg. The dummy’s head barely contacted the airbag in the Journey, while the side curtain airbag failed to deploy.
For more details on each individual model, see the IIHS website.
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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OK here comes a rant. I really wish I could pick and choose the safety options I want on a car. Remember those "horrible" auto execs who told us in the 1970s that AIR BAGS COULD NOT BE MADE RELIABLE AT A REASONABLE COST? HEY GUESS WHAT!? THEY WERE RIGHT!!! The only time the air bag in my car went off was when my kid bumped a tree at about 2 MPH! What a useless expensive pain that was. But, when I crashed into a concrete barrier at 30 MPH? Nothing. Useless. Ouch. How about knee to the dash board? Now I've got a vehicle with a faulty sensor in the seat (2009 Suzuki) and another (2008 Toyota) with an air bag light on and nobody can tell me what's wrong with it. I think we all ought to wonder whether any air bag is safe after 5 years of getting bumped, trashed, heated and frozen in a vehicle. Some experts are wondering if air bags are a factor in pedestrians deaths. How? Have you noticed how big the pillars around the windows are getting? Where do you think the air bags are? Yep, that's right. They are in those pillars. Also of note, in the last 10 years roof crush standards have increased significantly. So has the size of the window pillars. Result: the driver can't see out very well. Maybe that's the reason so many cars need rear cameras. HEY! IF YOU MADE THE REAR WINDOW A BIT LARGER YOU WOULD NOT NEED THE CAMERA. Oh, and the stupid camera only works when the transmission is in reverse. In my new SUV I can't see the little trailer when we are moving forward because of the stupid tiny window in my SUV. I could see it out the rear window in the mirror in my old 1994 Jeep Cherokee! So, call me a newly converted free marketeer on safety equipment. I want to choose what safety equipment goes on my car. I would ditch the air bags. I want to buy a car with big windows. And since I don't think I am stupid enough to actually roll a vehicle, I think the crush proof roof is pretty useless. You can't tell me that the reason highway fatalities gone down is because of air bags. I think they went down because of mandatory seat belt use.
I've been in two Dodge cars lately, and they have been horrible! So clunky and unresponsive. I think they only sell because some people think they look cool. But damn are they ever ugly.