The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study today showing very poor rear-impact accident results in SUVs, pickups and vans. In the pickup and minivan category, only Hyundai , Kia , Toyota and a discontinued Ford van received top marks for their head restraints in the test. Several SUVs passed.
The insurance institute looked at nearly all models currently on sale and rated them for head restraint design and simulated rear impact protection. While nearly all of the pickups and about half of the minivans tested passed the head restraint test with flying colors, the dynamic simulation -a test created with a sled that replicates a 20-mph rear impact – proved detrimental to most of the vehicles.
In the pickup and minivan category, only the Toyota Tundra , the Hyundai Entourage and similar Kia Sedona and the now discontinued Ford Freestar received good marks for both design and dynamic situation.
SUVs faired better and in fact improved from last year. The following models all received top marks: Acura MDX and RDX; Ford Edge / Lincoln MDX; Ford Freestyle; Honda CR-V , Element and Pilot; Hyundai Santa Fe ; Jeep Grand Cherokee ; Kia Sorento ; Land Rover LR2 ; Mercedes M-Class; Mitsubishi Outlander ; Subaru B9 Tribeca and Forrester; and Volvo XC-90.
Models of all three vehicle types finishing with poor overall ratings included: Dodge Dakota/ Mitsubishi Raider; Dodge Ram 1500 ; Ford F-150 (with integrated seatbelts); Nissan Frontier ; Buick Terraza/ Chevrolet Uplander/Saturn Relay; Chrysler Town & Country /Dodge Caravan; Toyota Sienna ; BMW X3 ; BMW X5 ; Buick Rainier/Chevrolet TrailBlazer/ GMC Envoy/Isuzu Ascender/ Saab 9-7x; Chrysler Pacifica; Dodge Nitro; Ford Explorer /Sport Trac/Mercury Mountaineer; Hummer H3; Hyundai Tucson ; Jeep Liberty ; Kia Sportage ; Lexus GX470 and RX; Nissan Xterra ; Suzuki XL-7; Toyota 4Runner and Highlander.
