Jeep Wagoneer excels as different massive SUVs falter in IIHS exams

For drivers of huge SUVs, their imposing measurement comes with a way of safety. However some fashions are safer than others, new scores from the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security present.

The Jeep Wagoneer is the one mannequin out of three fashionable massive SUVs examined to qualify for a 2024 Prime Security Decide award. Different bestsellers, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition, fell quick for a number of causes, together with subpar efficiency within the small overlap entrance crash check. Greater than 90% of latest fashions have sailed by means of this analysis with good scores since 2021.

These automobiles are designed to be folks haulers, in addition to to tow boats and campers. However none of them presents good safety for again seat passengers — a shortcoming that stops the Wagoneer from incomes the higher-tier Prime Security Decide+ award.

“The large mass of those massive SUVs gives some further safety in crashes with smaller automobiles, although that additionally means they current extra hazard to different street customers,” IIHS President David Harkey mentioned. “The flip aspect of their massive measurement is that there’s a lot extra drive to handle after they crash into a hard and fast impediment like a tree or bridge abutment or the barrier we use in our entrance crash exams.”

These excessive forces proved to be a problem for all three automobiles, however the Wagoneer outperformed the others.

Within the small overlap analysis, primarily based on exams performed on each side of the car, the good-rated Wagoneer did a superb job sustaining survival house for the motive force and entrance passenger. It carried out barely worse within the driver-side check: Slight intrusion within the footwell resulted in a modest danger of harm to the motive force’s left foot and ankle. In each the driver- and passenger-side exams, the entrance and aspect curtain airbags labored accurately to forestall the dummies’ heads from coming near the stiff buildings of the car, and measures taken from the dummies didn’t present some other heightened danger.

Within the driver-side check, the acceptable-rated Tahoe maintained enough survival house for the motive force, and the airbags and restraints labored nicely. Nonetheless, there was sufficient intrusion into the footwell that harm measures taken from the motive force dummy confirmed a considerable danger of decrease leg accidents. Efficiency was worse within the passenger-side check. Intensive intrusion into the footwell contributed to a excessive danger of harm to the appropriate foot and reasonable danger of harm to the left leg of the passenger.

The construction of the marginal-rated Expedition didn’t maintain up within the exams of both aspect. Within the driver-side check, the steering column partially indifferent from the instrument panel, and in each exams the A-pillar separated from the rocker panel. Extreme intrusion into the footwell contributed to a excessive danger of harm to the motive force’s proper leg and reasonable danger to the left. Footwell intrusion was additionally seen within the passenger-side check to a lesser extent.

All three automobiles earn a superb ranking within the unique reasonable overlap entrance analysis, which solely considers the extent of safety offered within the entrance seat. None allowed substantial intrusion into the motive force’s survival house. Nonetheless, the motive force dummy’s head hit the steering wheel by means of the airbag within the Wagoneer, and the motive force’s aspect curtain airbag within the Expedition didn’t deploy through the check.

For these automobiles, the check was run with a further dummy within the second row in order that up to date reasonable overlap scores may very well be calculated too. Factoring in restraint efficiency and harm danger for a second-row passenger, not one of the automobiles carried out nicely. In all three, measurements taken from the rear dummy confirmed a reasonably excessive danger of chest accidents due to excessive seat belt forces, although the airbags and restraints within the marginal-rated Wagoneer functioned nicely in any other case.

Solely the marginal-rated Expedition has second-row belt pretensioners, which may mitigate belt forces, however its harm metrics have been no higher than these seen within the different two SUVs. The Expedition’s aspect curtain airbag for the rear passenger additionally didn’t deploy, however that wasn’t sufficient to alter its total ranking.

Within the poor-rated Tahoe, measurements taken from the rear dummy confirmed a excessive danger of head or neck accidents, together with the chest harm dangers. The second-row lap belt within the Tahoe additionally slid onto the rear dummy’s stomach from the best place on the pelvis, growing the danger of belly accidents.

“These discouraging outcomes present that some fashionable automobiles nonetheless lag behind in assembly probably the most superior security requirements,” mentioned Raul Arbelaez, vp of the Institute’s Automobile Analysis Middle. “The excellent news is that the highest performer on this class proves that automakers can readily deal with these issues.”

All three SUVs breezed by means of the up to date aspect check with good scores, although the rear dummy’s head thumped exhausting towards the aspect curtain airbag within the Expedition.

Within the pedestrian crash avoidance analysis, the usual entrance crash prevention methods supplied with the Expedition and Wagoneer earn good scores. Each automobiles prevented collisions with the pedestrian dummy in a lot of the daytime and nighttime check situations. All trims of the Wagoneer additionally include acceptable- or good-rated headlights. The headlights equipped on all trims of the Expedition solely earn a marginal ranking. They wrestle to light up the street nicely sufficient on curves, and the low beams produce an excessive amount of glare for oncoming drivers.

In distinction, the Tahoe earns solely a marginal ranking within the pedestrian check. Its normal system prevented hitting the pedestrian dummy or slowed considerably to mitigate the drive of impression in all of the daylight exams, but it surely faltered at midnight. Within the 12 mph situation that simulates an grownup strolling throughout the roadway in entrance of the car at night time, the Tahoe solely lowered its velocity by 3 mph when utilizing its excessive beams and didn’t gradual in any respect when utilizing its low beams, for instance. It additionally slowed solely 2 mph when utilizing its low beams within the 25 mph crossing grownup check.

The poor-rated headlights equipped with all trims of the Tahoe could also be a contributing consider these lackluster outcomes. Together with creating extreme glare for oncoming drivers, the Tahoe’s low beams don’t mild up the appropriate aspect of straightaways nicely. Within the IIHS check, the pedestrian dummy crosses the check observe from proper to left.

Good headlights and efficient pedestrian crash avoidance methods are particularly necessary for bigger automobiles, since their better top and weight make them extra harmful than smaller vehicles for pedestrians and different street customers.

The seat belt reminders within the Expedition earn a superb ranking, whereas the Tahoe’s are rated acceptable as a result of there isn’t a reminder for the second-row seating positions. The Wagoneer earns a marginal ranking as a result of its unbelted occupant alert doesn’t come on quick sufficient. It additionally lacks a second-row belt reminder.

Each the Wagoneer and Tahoe earn good+ scores for the convenience of use of their LATCH methods, that are supposed to make it simpler to put in a baby seat correctly. The Expedition earns a suitable ranking.

Full scores for 3 fashionable massive SUVs