INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY

Few small SUVs excel in new IIHS front crash prevention test

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Thursday, April 25, 2024

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“This is a vital update to one of our most successful test programs,” IIHS President David Harkey said.

Key Points:

“This is a vital update to one of our most successful test programs,” IIHS President David Harkey said.
The original vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention evaluation was developed when the technology was relatively new, so the performance requirements only addressed low-speed crashes.
While real-world data indicate that front crash prevention is eliminating higher-speed crashes, the original test didn’t provide a way to gauge the performance of specific systems at those higher speeds.
Updated front crash prevention ratings: Small SUVs

First partial driving automation safeguard ratings show industry has work to do

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

“We evaluated partial automation systems from BMW, Ford, General Motors, Genesis, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Tesla and Volvo,” IIHS President David Harkey said.

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“We evaluated partial automation systems from BMW, Ford, General Motors, Genesis, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Tesla and Volvo,” IIHS President David Harkey said.
The GMC Sierra and Nissan Ariya are both available with partial automation systems that earn marginal ratings.
“Some drivers may feel that partial automation makes long drives easier, but there is little evidence it makes driving safer,” Harkey said.
“These results are worrying, considering how quickly vehicles with these partial automation systems are hitting our roadways,” Harkey said.

IIHS challenges automakers with tougher TOP SAFETY PICK award criteria

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Tuesday, February 27, 2024

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Of those, 22 earn TOP SAFETY PICK+, and 49 earn TOP SAFETY PICK.

Key Points:

Of those, 22 earn TOP SAFETY PICK+, and 49 earn TOP SAFETY PICK.
“We followed the tougher requirements we introduced last year with another major update to the award criteria in 2024,” said IIHS President David Harkey.
In 2024, a good rating is required for either TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+.
Mazda earns the most TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards of any single brand, with five, as well as one TOP SAFETY PICK.

Three midsize luxury SUVs excel in back seat protection

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Thursday, December 14, 2023

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“It’s encouraging that more than half of the 2024 midsize luxury SUVs we tested performed well in our updated moderate overlap front crash test,” IIHS President David Harkey said.

Key Points:

“It’s encouraging that more than half of the 2024 midsize luxury SUVs we tested performed well in our updated moderate overlap front crash test,” IIHS President David Harkey said.
Rather, the front seat has become safer because of improved airbags and advanced seat belts that are rarely available in back.
IIHS researchers also developed new metrics that focus on the injuries most frequently seen in back seat passengers.
All eight SUVs provided excellent protection in the front seat.

Large pickups offer strong side protection but falter in back seat safety

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Tuesday, November 7, 2023

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ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Four large pickups offer strong protection in side crashes but fall short when it comes to protecting passengers in the back seat.

Key Points:

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Four large pickups offer strong protection in side crashes but fall short when it comes to protecting passengers in the back seat.
However, in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, which now emphasizes back seat safety, only the Tundra manages a marginal rating.
Rather, the front seat has become safer because of improved airbags and advanced seat belts that are rarely available in back.
All four pickups provided good protection in the front seat.

Minivans don’t make the grade when it comes to rear-seat safety

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Tuesday, September 19, 2023

None of the four minivans tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earns an acceptable or good rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, which now emphasizes back seat safety.

Key Points:

None of the four minivans tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earns an acceptable or good rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, which now emphasizes back seat safety.
The Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna are rated marginal, while the Honda Odyssey is rated poor.
All but the Sienna also lack seat belt reminders for the second-row seats, as IIHS highlighted in February.
“Back seat safety is important for all vehicles, but it’s especially vital for those, like minivans, that customers are choosing specifically to transport their families,” said IIHS President David Harkey.

Dodge muscle cars once again top HLDI’s list of most-stolen vehicles

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Thursday, August 31, 2023

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ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two Dodge muscle cars, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and Dodge Charger HEMI, once again top the Highway Loss Data Institute’s list of the most-stolen vehicles for model years 2020-22.

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ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two Dodge muscle cars, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and Dodge Charger HEMI, once again top the Highway Loss Data Institute’s list of the most-stolen vehicles for model years 2020-22.
Meanwhile, a viral trend targeting Hyundai-Kia vehicles propelled four Kia models into the top 20.
For 2020-22 Charger SRT Hellcat models, there were 25 whole-vehicle theft claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, up from about 18 for 2019-21 models.
Thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles soared in recent years after thieves discovered that many of them lacked electronic immobilizers.

Honda Accord shines while other midsize cars struggle in rear-seat safety test

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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Honda Accord outperformed other midsize cars in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, earning a rare good rating in the new, challenging evaluation focused on rear-seat protection.

Key Points:

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Honda Accord outperformed other midsize cars in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, earning a rare good rating in the new, challenging evaluation focused on rear-seat protection.
Among the other six midsize cars tested, the Subaru Outback earns an acceptable rating.
To encourage manufacturers to improve rear-seat protection, the updated test adds a dummy in the back seat behind the driver.
However, measurements indicated a slightly higher risk of injuries to the right leg or foot of the driver in the good-rated Accord.

Latest driver death rates highlight dangers of muscle cars

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Thursday, July 13, 2023

Eighteen of the 23 vehicles with the lowest driver death rates are minivans or SUVs, and 12 are luxury vehicles.

Key Points:

Eighteen of the 23 vehicles with the lowest driver death rates are minivans or SUVs, and 12 are luxury vehicles.
“The muscle cars on this list highlight that a vehicle’s image and how it is marketed can also contribute to crash risk.”
IIHS has been calculating driver death rates approximately every three years since 1989.
But three Dodge muscle cars with excessively high driver death rates also rank among the worst performers when it comes to other-driver deaths, suggesting these vehicles are driven in an aggressive manner.
Several of the luxury vehicles with the lowest driver and other-driver death rates pack nearly as much horsepower as some of the muscle cars that rank among the worst performers.

Small pickups fall short when it comes to rear-seat safety

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va., June 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Most small pickups fall short when it comes to protecting passengers seated in the rear, the latest crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show.

Key Points:

ARLINGTON, Va., June 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Most small pickups fall short when it comes to protecting passengers seated in the rear, the latest crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show.
“Our updated moderate overlap front crash test proved to be challenging for small pickups,” said IIHS President David Harkey.
All these things tell us that the rear seat belts need improvement.”
None of the five small crew cab pickups IIHS tested earns a good rating.
The Ford Ranger earns a marginal rating, and the Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma are all rated poor.