SUVs Failing Tougher Crash Tests!
IHS Crash Test
Every so often the IHS, Insurance for Highway Safety will up its crash tests and expect auto manufacturers to improve their cars for a safer road experience for everyone. However this time something went wrong. SUVs are failing the tests at an alarming rate. This is especially worrying since SUVs are often the car of choice when looking for a practical family car. You’d want anybody in the car to be safe, especially if you end up in a collision. The problems arrive mainly from the side impact tests where many of the tested cars failed.
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How Many SUVs Failed The Test?
On average, only 1 in every 20 SUV passed the test. That’s a completely unacceptable figure, a 1:20 pass rate is incredibly risky. With this information it’s easy to come to the conclusion that if you drive SUVs you have a very slim chance of a car being regarded safe if you end up in a side collision. You may think, why has the IHS increased the test requirements? The reasoning they gave was that most midsized SUVs from 2020 – 2021 have a heavier weight and higher speed than the antiquated methods of testing accounted for. The previous test was a 3,300 pound barrier with a speed of 31 mph. The current test now is a 4,180 pound barrier going at 37 mph. These changes were enough to show us that most SUVs on the market (19 out of 20 of them) aren’t fit to survive a side crash from a car that’s a similar weight to it.
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SUVs Ranking
Below is a list of SUVs showing their safety rankings.
Acceptable rated Cars:
2021-22 Audi Q3
2021-22 Buick Encore
2021-22 Chevrolet Trax
2021-22 Honda CR-V
2021-22 Nissan Rogue
2021-22 Subaru Forester
2021-22 Toyota RAV4
2021-22 Toyota Venza
2021-22 Volvo XC40
Marginal Rating
2021-22 Chevrolet Equinox
2021-22 Ford Escape
2021-22 GMC Terrain
2021 Hyundai Tucson
2021 Jeep Compass
2021-22 Jeep Renegade
2021-22 Kia Sportage
2021-22 Lincoln Corsair
Poor Rating
2021-22 Honda HR-V
2020, 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
How To Pass?
In order to pass a crash test, a car must meet certain safety standards and requirements established by regulatory bodies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) in Europe, and the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in Australia.
These safety standards typically include criteria such as:
- Frontal impact: The car is crashed into a rigid barrier at a specific speed to test the effectiveness of the vehicle’s safety features in protecting the driver and passengers.
- Side impact: The car is hit on the side by a moving barrier to test the effectiveness of the vehicle’s side airbags, seat belts, and other safety features.
- Rollover: The car is tipped over to simulate a rollover accident, testing the vehicle’s stability and ability to protect occupants in the event of such an accident.
- Pedestrian safety: Tests are conducted to evaluate the car’s ability to protect pedestrians in the event of a collision.
During the crash test, the car’s performance is evaluated based on various criteria, including the extent of cabin intrusion, occupant injury, and the effectiveness of safety features such as airbags, seat belts, and crumple zones. To pass the test, the car must meet minimum safety standards and criteria established by the regulatory body.
The crash testing process is a very thorough and rigorous evaluation of a vehicle’s safety performance. The tests are designed to simulate real-world accidents and evaluate the car’s ability to protect occupants and pedestrians in the event of a collision.
The regulatory bodies that establish these safety standards and conduct the tests often update their criteria as new safety technologies are developed and as crash data reveals new trends and risks. As a result, auto makers are constantly working to improve their vehicles’ safety performance and to meet or exceed these increasingly strict standards.
While no crash test can completely replicate every possible accident scenario, the current testing procedures and standards are designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a car’s safety performance and help consumers make informed decisions about their purchases.
