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Website design By BotEap.comWe may have all noticed the sharp rise in sales and popularity of small crossovers. They appear to be much more practical than large SUVs and sedans, and have attracted a large proportion of young customers. Consequently, these small SUVs have greatly increased in sales numbers and popularity. However, recent tests have shown that a fairly significant number of the popular crossovers on the streets today are not as safe as they are supposed to be. This test was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and only two of all the crossovers that participated actually crossed the line of approval marks.
Website design By BotEap.comThe two SUVs that passed the test were the Subaru Forester and the Mitsubishi Outlander. Actually, in real terms, only the Subaru Forester scored well, with the Outlander scoring decently. All other SUVs couldn’t even cross this ‘acceptable’ mark. It is interesting to note that these two SUVs were recently restyled. Apparently Mitsubishi and Subaru engineers kept a keen eye on the new test that IIHS introduced!
Website design By BotEap.comThe new test that entered the regular IIHS test series was the ‘small overlap crash test’. This test replicates the effects of the vehicle hitting a strong, stationary object such as poles, etc. from the front. The SUV being tested is made to drive head-on into a five-foot-long rigid object at a speed of 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour). The test replicates the consequences of damaging the front corner of the vehicle. This test checks the efficiency of the air bags and seat belts in a much better way than other frontal crash tests. IIHS has now created two different categories: ‘Top Safety Pick+’ and ‘Top Safety Pick’. The two aforementioned SUVs that passed the newly introduced ‘small overlap crash test’ were awarded the ‘Ultimate Safety Pick+’ title, while the other SUVs that failed the test did quite well in the remaining tests. listed below. this last category.
Website design By BotEap.comInstitute Vice President Joe Nolan said, “With the redesigned Forester, Subaru engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded. That’s exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to better protect people in these types of serious frontal crashes. The institute has placed the Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander in the ‘Top Safety Pick +’ category and declared them the safest choice of all SUVs tested. SUVs included in the ‘Top Safety Pick’ category were Kia Sportage, Jeep Patriot, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV-4, Volkswagen Tiguan, BMW X1, Buick Encore, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. However, the Toyota RAV-4 has not yet undergone the new test. The Institute says the SUV won’t be tested until next year, as there are pending changes to be made that will improve the SUV’s safety stats in many ways.
