A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has revealed that most mid-size SUVs lack good protection for rear occupants in frontal crashes.
Related: Here’s Every Car That Earned an IIHS Top Safety Award for 2023
The agency’s latest findings come in the wake of it recently updating the moderate overlap front crash test to add a test dummy behind the driver. While the test still includes a front-seat-mounted dummy, the updated version is highlighting how important protection is for rear occupants: IIHS tested 13 mid-size SUVs and found that only four nameplates over three model years earned good ratings.
Good
- 2022-23 Ford Explorer
- 2021-23 Ford Mustang Mach-E
- 2022-23 Subaru Ascent
- 2022-23 Tesla Model Y
Marginal
- 2022-23 Chevrolet Traverse
- 2022-23 Toyota Highlander
- 2022-23 Volkswagen Atlas
Poor
- 2022 Honda Pilot
- 2022-23 Hyundai Palisade
- 2022-23 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2021-23 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited/four-door
- 2021-23 Mazda CX-9
- 2021-23 Nissan Murano