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According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, while many midsized SUVs received “Good” frontal crash ratings, midsized SUVs lag in side impact safety.

The IIHS puts the SUVs in a series of tests including a front impact test that involves an impact at 40 mph, a side impact test where are a moving barrier strikes the SUV at 31 mph and a rear impact test that measures whiplash protection when the vehicles is struck 20 mph.

The biggest loser according to the results from the IIHS study was the Chevrolet Trailblazer. The Chevrolet Trailblazer received an ”Acceptable” front impact rating and a “Marginal” rating for side impact protection. Fore rear-impact protection the TrailBlazer earned a “Poor” rating which is the worst possible rating. The same results applied to the GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7X.

IIHS also said that Chrysler’s Jeep Cherokee was “Good” in front impact protection, “Marginal” in side impact protection and “Good” for rear impact protection.

The best performing SUV was the Nissan Pathfinder, although it did receive a “Marginal” rating for whiplash protection. It earned “Good” rating for front and side impact protection.

The Toyota 4Runner also received “Good” ratings for front and side impact protection but earned the worst possible rating for whiplash protection.

The popular Ford Explorer earned “Good” for front impact, ”Acceptable” for side and “Poor” for whiplash protection.

 

Source: CNNMoney

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