For many buyers, the feeling of security that SUVs provide is a major selling point. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) wanted to see things more clearly by conducting crash tests on three full-size American SUVs. The results proved to be uneven.
The American organization dedicated to automobile safety thus destroyed – for science – examples of Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition and Jeep Wagoneer in a series of tests seeking to provide a complete portrait of the passive and active safety of these vehicles. Of the three, only the Wagoneer can boast of meeting the standards allowing it to earn the “Top Safety Pick” designation from the IIHS.
The test that proved to be the most difficult was that of the “moderate” semi-frontal collision, which simulates a frontal impact with a barrier occupying 40% of the vehicle’s frontal surface at 64 km/h. Recently updated, it now takes into account the risk of injury to central passengers. All three models received ratings ranging from “Average” (Marginal) to “Bad” (Poor) due to seat belts posing a risk of chest injury. In the case of the Tahoe, rear passengers are also at risk of head and neck injuries during this type of collision.
The simulation of a mild frontal collision, during which 25% of the vehicle collides with a barrier at the same speed, also proved difficult for the Expedition, which obtained an “Average” score. The deformation of the front pillars as well as the partial detachment of the steering column and a high risk of injury to the feet explain this result.
Mixed results, therefore, which add to the increased risks posed by these SUVs to other vehicles due to their weight, notes the IIHS. This data will undoubtedly push manufacturers to review the design of certain components of their models.