Eighteen different mid-sized SUV models were crashed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to see how well they performed in a side-impact crash. Ten of those SUVs scored well but some popular models fell short.
The test was tougher in 2022. The IIHS used a larger, faster barrier that simulates bigger vehicles we see on the road. Two of the models scored perfectly, the Volkswagen ID.4 (all-electric) and the Mazda CX-9.
Here's how each SUV did:
Good
- 2022 Ford Explorer
- 2022 Infiniti QX60
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator
- 2021-22 Mazda CX-9
- 2022 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2022 Subaru Ascent
- 2022 Toyota Highlander
- 2021-22 Volkswagen Atlas
- 2021-22 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
- 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 (electric)
Acceptable
- 2022 Buick Enclave
- 2022 Chevrolet Traverse
Marginal
- 2022 Honda Passport
- 2022 Honda Pilot
- 2022 Hyundai Palisade
- 2021-22 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
- 2022 Kia Telluride
- 2021-22 Nissan Murano
“We are confident in the auto industry and that they will respond to this new test,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “There's no doubt that they can do it. It's just a question of how long it takes them to employ some of the additional perhaps structural measures, restraint measures that will protect the occupants.”
More information about the testing can be found on IIHS' website. On their site, you can also find the results from the small SUV test conducted in the fall. Of the 20 vehicles tested then, only the Mazda CX-5 received a good rating.