The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an American non-profit organization known for its rigor in promoting automobile safety, has developed a new side-impact crash test that seeks to better reflect reality.
Recognizing the increased weight of SUVs plying North American roads, the IIHS increased the mass of its movable barrier from 1496 kg to 1896 kg. The impact speed also goes from 50 km / h to 60 km / h. These new parameters are estimated to increase the energy deployed in the collision by 82%.
To inaugurate this new protocol, the IIHS tested it on models registered in an extremely popular segment: compact SUVs. The results obtained confirm that manufacturers were not really ready to face these changes.
Of all the models tested, only the Mazda CX-5 fared with a rating described as “good” by the institute. The only downside is the risk of injury to the driver’s chest, which is slightly higher than the general score.
Nine rivals had their performance defined as “acceptable”, while eight other models had overall “average” results. Two SUVs occupy the bottom of the standings with a “bad” score, namely the Honda HR-V and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
The IIHS says builders will need to solidify door protective structures to prevent “intrusions” that can injure occupants. Air bags increasing protection in the thorax will also be necessary, we advance.